
Class J^ lh J/ 

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THE WOMAN IN 
THE CASE 

A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 

BY 
CLYDE FITCH 



NON-KEFERT 




SHVAD-a3S 



BOSTON 

LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 

1915 






\^» 



? 



Copyright, 1915, 

By little, brown, AND COMPANY, 

AND ALICE M. FITCH. 



This play is fully protected by the copyright law, all requirements 
of which have been complied with. In its present printed form it is 
dedicated to the reading public only, and no performance of it, either 
professional or amateur, may be given without the written permission 
of the owner of the acting rights, who may be addressed in care of the 
publishers, Little, Brown, and Company. 



a^ 



NBV 15 1915 

■ ©CI.A420438 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 



ACT I. At the Rolfes'. 

" I love you, first, last and always. You represent life in 
this world to me." 

ACT 11. Visitors' Room in the Tombs. 
Three Weeks Later. 
" My faith in him is more than human ; it comes from my 
soul, — and you know in our soul lives whatever there is of 
divine in us." 

ACT III. An Apartment in West 52D Street. 
Two Months Later. 
** Will you men never understand what a woman can 
undergo for the man she loves ! Men endure physical 
torture for our sakes, which our bodies refuse to support; 
but we make it up in what vi^e can endure mentally and 
spiritually for you." 

ACT IV. At the Rolfes'. 

One Week Later. 



Place. New York City. 
Time. The Present. 



THE PERSONS IN THE PLAY 



Margaret Rolfe. 

Mrs. Hughes, //er mother. 

Claire Forster. 

Elsie Brewster. 

Dora Miller. 

Louise Mane. 

Maid. 

Julian Rolfe. 

TOMPSON. 

Jimmy O'Neill. 

Louis Klauffsky. 

Walters. Servant to the Rolfes. 

Inspector Williams. 

Attendant. 

Policeman. 



Produced on January 30, 1905, at the Herald 
Square Theatre, New York, with the following 
cast : 

Margaret Rolfe Blanche Walsh 

Mrs. Hughes Eleanor Carey 

Claire Forster Dorothy Dorr 

Elsie Brewster Kathryn Keyes 

Dora Miller Helen Ware 

Louise Mane Florence St. Leonard 

Maid Ethlyn Clemens 

Julian Rolfe Robert Drouet 

Tompson George Fawcett 

Jimmy O'Neill Forster Lardner 

Louis Klauffsky ......... Samuel Edwards 

Walters William Wadsworth 

Inspector Williams William Travers 

Attendant Charles Macdonald 

Policeman W. H. Wright 



Produced at the Garrick Theatre, London, on 
June 2, 1909, with the following cast: 

Margaret Rolfe Grace Lane 

Mrs. Hughes Kate Serjeantson 

Claire Forster Violet Vanbrugh 

Elsie Brewster Eva Killick 

Dora Miller Enid Sass 

Louise Mane Sybil Grey 

Julian Rolfe Herbert Sleath 

Tompson Charles V. France 

Jimmy O'Neill Frank Tennant 

Louis Klauffsky E. Dagnall 

Walters Cecil Yapp 

Inspector Williams Henry Hare 

Attendant, Policeman, Maid. 

The play was produced by Mr. Allan Aynesworth. 



ACT I 

Scene : At the Rolfes\ A very charming draw- 
ing-room in a New York apartment, at the end 
of dinner. 

Julian Rolfe, a handsome man of thirty-four , 
enters, and holds the door open for three ladies to 
pass into the drawing-room fro^n the dining room, 
— Dora, Louise, and Elsie, — young, pretty, 
and very smartly dressed. They were the brides- 
maids at his wedding three months before the 
opening of the play. 
Julian. Make the most of your freedom. I 

warn you, we men won't keep away very long. 
Dora. [Sitting on the sofa.] See that you 

don't ! Remember we are leaving very early, 



12 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

because you are really an invalid, and shouldn't 
keep late hours. 

Julian. Nonsense ! I'm well enough, now ! 
Why, I hope to go out to-morrow. 

Louise. [Sitting on the sofa beside Dora.] 
That's all very well, but you — a man who's 
had pneumonia and hasn't been out yet ! The 
truth is, we ought all to have regretted this party. 

Julian. Then neither Margaret nor I would 
ever have forgiven you. And the next time we 
got married, we'd have engaged an entirely new 
set of bridesmaids ! 

[They all laugh. 

Elsie. When Margaret comes back, send her 
in to us, won't you? Don't you men keep her 
with you. 

Julian. I promise to deny ourselves for your 
sakes, if she gives me the chance ; but she will 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 13 

probably join you here herself, when she finishes 
with this newspaper man. 

Elsie. What a thing it is to get married and 
be interviewed by the papers ! 

Julian. Oh, but we're an old married couple, 
now. 

Dora. [Laughing.] Three months ! 

Elsie. / consider you still in the tunnel — 
" us-two-alone-away-from-everybody " period. 

Julian. [Laughing.] Nonsense ! 

[Starts to go. 

Dora. Tell the men not to forget that we 
must leave here at nine-thirty, in any case. You 
know, we're rehearsing a minuet for Mrs. War- 
ner'^ fancy dress ball. 

Louise. Wish you and Margaret could come. 

Julian. I'm afraid we can't ! Our fancy 
dress just now must be Darby and Joan ! 



14 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

[Walters enters at Right with cofee, and passes 
it. All take it, except Elsie. 

Julian. Well, excuse me. 

[Goes out. 

Louise. He looks pretty well for a man who's 
been so fearfully ill. 

Dora. Yes. You know, poor Margaret says 
they never thought they would save him. 

Louise. He'll have to be careful for a long 
time, w^on't he? 

Dora. Rather ! A relapse would be a very 
dangerous thing ! 

Louise. What in the world can a reporter 
w^ant of her all this time? 

Elsie, [Beginning to drum popular songs on 
the piano.] And just at dinner ! I wonder ! 

Louise. Shall I take a cup for her? 

Dora. I would. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 15 

[Louise puts aside a cup of cofee for Mar- 
garet. 

Dora. What a nice idea to have a brides- 
maids' dinner all over again — after the fatal 
deed is done ! 

Elsie. Yes; it sort of stamps the thing a 
success ! 

Louise. My dear, I don't think I ever knew 
a happier marriage than Margaret's and Julian's. . 

Dora. They're so congenial — like the same 
things. Both are music mad, and they've both 
a sense of humor. Besides, she's the dearest 
girl in the world, anyway ! 

Louise. [Putting her cup on the table.] And 
everyone says no one has ever made so many 
friends in so short a time as Julian has since he 
came here to live. 

Dora. How long is it? 



1 6 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Louise. Only three or four years. 

[Walters enters with liqueurs, which he passes. 

Dora. Of course his being a college chum of 
Philip Long's gave him all Philip's friends at 
once. He really owed his position here in New 
York to Philip. 

Louise. As a doctor, do you mean? 

Dora. Oh, no ! They say he'd already made 
a name for himself in his profession, in Cincinnati, 
before he came to New York. I mean socially. 

Elsie. [Stops playing.] Didn't you feel aw- 
fully queer when he proposed the toast to 
Philip? 

Louise. What was it he said? I didn't take 
it in, I was so surprised. 

Dora. ''Let's drink to the memory of one 
whom I am sure we all miss to-night, and more 
than I, for one, can say. To the dear memory 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 17 

of my best man, and my best friend, Philip 
Long!" 

Louise. You know, it's the first time I ever 
knew any one who was murdered. They always 
seem to belong to a different class. 

Elsie. Yes. You know, in the sixteenth and 
seventeenth centuries it was very smart to get 
murdered, but nowadays it isn't at all the thing 
in smart society ! 

Louise. My dear Elsie! 

Elsie. Yes, that was horrid of me. I'm 
sorry ! 

Dora. I am perfectly convinced it was suicide. 

Louise. Lots of people think it would have 
been much more sensible of the Longs to have 
let the whole thing die down. 

Dora. But you know" what old Mr. Long's 
like. Nothing would persuade him to let the 



1 8 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ignominy of suicide rest on his son's name. He 
is determined it is murder, and that he'll prove it. 

Elsie. Does any one know what Mr. Rolfe' 
thinks ? 

[A momenfs pause. 

Dora. We might ask Margaret. 

Louise. No ! I hate to talk about it, espe- 
cially to-night. It'll depress us all ! 

Dora. What a lovely wedding it was, wasn't 
it? 

Elsie. Lovely! 

[Her fingers running into a sentimental ballad 
on the piano. 

Dora. But, if you remember, Philip Long was 
a little distrait. I remember some one joking 
him about it. 

Louise. How could he have been in love with 
such an awful creature? 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 19 

Elsie. My dear! Don't fly in the face of 
Providence by questioning why men fall in love 
with any of us. Be grateful that they do, and 
let it go at that! 

[They all laugh. 

Dora. They say she's pretty — or used to 
be, — and is very clever and attractive. 

[Elsie stops playing. 

Louise. My brother says Philip was always 
rather weak, and couldn't resist any temptation. 
If he got with a crowd of men who drank, he 
always drank too much ; and if he got with a 
crowd who played cards, he gambled too high, 
and lost. And almost any girl who tried, could 
do what she liked with him. 

Elsie. Mercy ! Wish Vd known that ! 

Louise. [Laughing.] Elsie ! 

Dora. That was exactly the basis of Mr. 



20 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Rolfe's and Philip's friendship. He took hold of 

Phil, and kept him straight. 

Elsie. Well, do let's talk of something else, 
or we'll have an awful evening ! 

Dora. [Insinuatingly.] Suppose we talk about 
Jimmy O'Neill. 

Elsie. Please don't ! 

[She turns to the piano and plays again. 

Dora. You are not engaged to Jimmy O'Neill. 

Elsie. I am not ! ! 

Dora. Then you ought to be ashamed of 
yourself ! 

Elsie. Why? 

Dora. Because you carry on disgracefully 
with him. 

Elsie. Oh, well, he's engaged to me, but / am 
not engaged to him. 

Dora. Oh, thafs a new way to look at it ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 21 

Louise. No two people could see as much of 
each other as you two, without being bored to 
death, unless they were in love. 

Elsie. We have an intellectual friendship ! 

Dora. Oh, I see ! Well, when you are mar- 
ried, I'll give you a set of encyclopedias for a 
wedding present. 

Louise. And I'll get you a complete edition 
of the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" 
at Wanamaker's. 

[All laugh as Margaret enters. 

Margaret. I'm glad you're having such an 
amusing time ! 

Dora. Elsie says she has an intellectual 
friendship with Jimmy O'Neill ! 

Margaret. Well ! I've heard it called a 
good many things, but never that before ! [Sit- 
ting down with them. Dora gets the cofee from 



22 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

the table, and ofers it to Margaret.] No, 

thanks. 

Louise. What did the reporter want, Mar- 
garet ? 

Margaret. He wanted to know if I'd seen 
his evening paper, and when I said I hadn't, he 
wanted me to talk about PhiHp Long. Of 
course I wouldn't, but I had the greatest trouble 
in the world getting rid of him ! 

Dora. My dear, your apartment is too charm- 
ing for anything ! I never knew a young mar- 
ried couple with so few hideous things ! 

Elsie. Yes, — where are all your wedding 
presents? 

Margaret. In the Chamber of Horrors I 

Elsie. How do you mean? 

Margaret. That's what we call the library, 
where we've put all the impossible gifts. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 23 

Dora. [Leaning over the. piano.] Do take us 
there, and let's see them. 

Elsie. [Rising.] If I find mine! ! 

Margaret. Oh, don't worry, yours is in my 
room. It's a rule that the gifts of guests are 
always brought out and put somewhere else, 
when we know they're coming ! 

[They all laugh. 

Elsie. Splendid idea ! 

Dora. But suppose some one comes unex- 
pectedly, and doesn't see their present here, 
aren't they hurt? 

Margaret. [Rising.] Oh, no ! I take them 
at once to the library, and show it to them in the 
room of honor, as it were. Of course I wouldn't 
hurt any one's feelings for anything, especially any 
one who had been kind enough to remember me 
on the happiest day of my life — my wedding-day. 



24 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

[Walters enters, and announces Mr. Tomp- 
SON, a lawyer, — a good-looking man about 
forty-Jive years old, who enters. 
ToMPSON. Good evening, Mrs. Rolfe ! I'm 
afraid I'm rather in the way ! 

[General greeting. 

Margaret. Not at all. We're just going up 

to the library to see my wedding presents; the 

beautiful lamp you gave me is there; you must 

come and see it ! 

[The others mark this with secret amusement. 
Elsie. [Mischievously.] Is my present there, 
Margaret ? 

Margaret. [Also mischievously.] No, it usu- 
ally is, but it was taken out this evening, just 
before you came, for some reason or other. 

[All laugh. 
ToMPSON. What's the joke ? 



THE WOMAN IX THE CASE 25 

Margaret. Oh, nothing! Come along. 
ToiviPSON. No, — would you mmd takmg the 
young ladies, and coming back to me for a 
moment. I just want five minutes with you. 
Margaret. Something serious ? 
ToMPSON. [Covering the truth.] Oh, no, no ! 
Margaret. Come, girls. 

[All going out. 
Elsie. [Turning hack.] We'll tell you just 
how your lamp looks when we come back, Mr. 
Tompson ! 

ToMPSON. Thanks. 

[He rings an electric hell hy the mantel. 
Margaret. I'll be back in a moment. 

[They go out. 

[Tompson goes to the lamp, takes out an even- 

■ ing paper, and reads it. ITe is evidently 

nervous and worried. Enter Walters at Right. 



26 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

As he enters, Tompson quickly hides the paper 
behind his back. 

Walters. Did you ring, sir? 

Tompson. Yes, Walters. Is there an even- 
ing paper in the house? 

Walters. I don't know, sir. Mr. Rolfe 
sometimes brings one home, and sometimes 
doesn't. I haven't seen one this evening, sir. 

Tompson. The servants have none? 

Walters. No, sir. Having a dinner party on, 
we've none of us been out, sir. 

Tompson. Well, open the hall door, and tell 
Mrs. Rolfe's mother, Mrs. Hughes, who is wait- 
ing there, to come in. We don't want the guests 
to know she is here. 

Walters. [Looking surprised.] Yes, sir. 

[Goes out. 

[Tompson crosses the room to the sofa, watching 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 27 

the door. Mrs. Hughes enters. She is a 

handsome, well-preserved woman of fifty-four. 

Mrs. Hughes. Are they still in the dining 

room? 

ToMPSON. No, — only Julian and the men. 
Your daughter has taken her guests to see the 
wedding presents, but she'll be back at once. 

Mrs. Hughes. Do you think she's seen the 
paper ? 

ToMPSON. I don't know — the servants 
haven't. 

[Enter Margaret. 
Margaret. [Surprised.] Why, mother! 
Does Julian know — is anything the matter? 

[Going to her, and taking her hand. 
Mrs. Hughes. Shall we tell her? 
ToMPSON. My dear Madam, isn't that what 
you brought me here to do? 



28 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes. You see, Margaret, Mrs. 
Mane brought it to me. John had brought it 
home to her, — not her husband, — her son, I 
mean, — and he'd seen it in the train by ac- 
cident, on his way up town — 

Margaret. [.4 larmed and curious.] Seen what ? 
[Looking from her mother to Tompson. 

Mrs. Hughes. My dear, I'm telhng you ! 
She said she thought I ought to see it at once. 
And you can imagine what a state it put me 
into ! 

Margaret. [More alarmed.] No, I can't ! I 
can't, because you don't tell me what it is, 
mother. 

Mrs. Hughes. Why — [Stops.] It's — [Hesi- 
tates.] It's an awful article in an evening paper. 
I say it's libellous. I went at once to Mr. Tomp- 
son, didn't I ? — [Tompson hows assent, as she 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 29 

doesfiH wait for him to speak] and said you must 
come at once to her? The woman is a most 
dangerous person, evidently, who will stop at 
nothing. I think she's at the bottom of it all. 
Mr. Tompson won't say, but I tell him it takes 
a woman to catch a woman. Don't you agree 
with me, Margaret ? 

Margaret. [Desperate.] Mother, if you'll only 
tell me what it all is ! 

Mrs. Hughes. I thought I had — I've been 
trying to. 

Toj^iPSON. [Gimng Margaret the paper.] Read 
for yourself. It's better. 

[Margaret takes the paper to the lamp. 

Mrs. Hughes. [To Tompson.] What have 
you decided? 

ToiviPSON. I can decide nothing till I see 
Julian. 



30 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Looking up from the paper.] A 
reporter was here and asked me if I'd read this. 

[ToMPSON shows interest. 

Mrs. Hughes. I hope you told him you 
hadn't! 

Margaret. Of course, because I hadn't. 

[Reads on. 

Mrs. Hughes. I'm glad you told him so, 
anyway. Mr. Tompson thinks it may be best 
to ignore the whole thing. But I tell him — 
still I don't know — what — 

Margaret. [Interrupting.] But this is ab- 
surd ! Julian could only have known Philip 
Long's mistress through Philip. 

Mrs. Hughes. Exactly what I say ! I be- 
lieve in suing the paper. 

Margaret. [Doubtingly.] Love letter from 
Julian calling her "Darling Claire"! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 31 

Mrs. Hughes. So they say, and found in her 
desk! 

Margaret. Oh, this is some sensational story ! 
It'll all be disproved in the morning. 

Mrs. Hughes. That's just what I think, and 
we'd better ignore the whole thing ! [To Toi^iP- 
SON.] You see ! [To Margaret.] He didn't 
want me to come to you at all ! He wanted to 
go to Julian privately. But I said I wasn't 
going to have your married life begun with 
secrets. [To Tompson.] I agree with Margaret, 

— the whole thing will blow over in the morning. 
Margaret. [Putting aside the paper.] Ah, 

I won't read any more! I don't believe a word 
of it, and it'll only make me angry and miserable, 

— and Julian too! [To Mrs. Hughes.] Don't 
show this to him. 

Tompson. Oh, but we must! Others would 



32 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

speak of it to him, if we didn't, and it's only 

right he should hear of it from us. 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes, I must say, Margaret, 
I agree with Mr. Tompson. 

Margaret. Julian ! The soul of honor ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Oh, yes, — silly about telHng 
the truth, even when a boy. I never could make 
him see there were lies and lies! 

Margaret. Why, Mr. Tompson, the idea 
that Julian could want to steal this woman from 
Philip, and at the very time that he was asking 
me to marry him ! Oh ! Oh ! It's too prepos- 
terous even for his enemies, if he has any, to 
believe ! Julian, who has given me three of the 
most beautiful months that ever any woman 
was blessed with ! Julian, who has shown me 
more truth and beauty and goodness in the world 
than ever I, in my most innocent girlhood, 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 7,^ 

dreamed were there ! Julian, a man loved by all 
the men he's come in contact with ! Julian ! ! 
My Julian ! Oh ! If it wasn't so terrible a thing 
to say, even when not true, [half hysterically] 
I'd laugh! 

[She tears the paper in two. 

ToMPSON. Don't, please ! [He is too late.] 
I wanted to show that to Julian, all the same ! 

Margaret. [Giving him the pieces.] Tell him 

in a few words, if you like, but don't make him 

read through that brutal story. Remember 

how ill he's been, — and really it isn't necessary. 

[She rings the electric bell. 

Mrs. Hughes. Margaret's right ! 

Margaret. I'll send for Julian, and you see 
him alone. I'm sure it would make him feel 
worse about it, to have me here. I'd rather he 
didn't know I knew anything about it, if you 



34 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

can arrange it so. Come, mother. You and I 

will take the men up to the library. 

Mrs. Hughes. Oh, my dear, among the 
horrors ! 

ToMPSON. What horrors? 

Mrs. Hughes. The misfit wedding presents; 
they're all there! 

[Laughing. Tompson laughs too. 

Margaret. Not all. Mr. Tompson's lamp 
is there, mother. 

Mrs. Hughes. [Saving herself.] The one that 
gives such a splendid light? 

Margaret. Exactly! 

Tompson. Well done ! 

[Jimmy O'Neill comes in from the dining 
room. 

O'Neill. I say, — we're bored in there. Can't 
we join you, now? Oh, excuse me, — I didn't 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 35 

know you had other guests. Good evening, Mrs. 
Hughes. 

Mrs. Hughes. Good evening, Jimmy. 
O'Neill. [To Tompson.] How do you do? 
ToMPSON. Good evening, Mr. O'Neill. 
O'Neill. Where's Elsie and the rest of the 
little lot? 

Margaret. Gone up to the library. You 
bring the men up there to join us. 

[Enter Walters. 
O'Neill. All right. 

[Goes out. 
Margaret. Walters, tell Mr. Rolfe Mr, 
Tompson wishes to see him here a moment. 
Walters. Yes, Madam. 

[He exits. 
Tompson. Is Mr. Rolfe entirely recovered? 
Margaret. Well, he's wonderfullv better! 



36 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

And he would have our Httle dinner to-night. 

But the doctor forbids his going to the office yet. 

Mrs. Hughes. The doctor's quite right. 

ToMPSON. I suppose it's hard for Rolfe to 
keep idle. 

Margaret. Oh, awfully ! He'd disobey the 
doctor, if he dared. But he feels still the slightest 
exertion, and any strain or extra effort would 
really be serious. You see, he has no strength 
to fight a relapse with. 

Mrs. Hughes. Of course, you know, he seems 
perfectly well to me. 

Margaret. He will be, soon. He's to go out 
to-morrow. Don't let this worry him, — will 
you, Mr. Tompson? 

ToMPSON. No, indeed, no more than I can help. 

Margaret. [To Mrs. Hughes.] Come along, 
mother ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 37 

Mrs. Hughes. But I'm not dressed. 

Margaret. Nonsense ! You talk like Lady 

Godiva. Come along. [Going to the door, Mrs. 

Hughes following her.] Julian will snap his 

fingers at that article, I'm sure, Mr. Tompson. 

[Both go out. 
[Tompson picks up the pieces of paper, and 
is putting thejn together, as Julian enters, 
smoking a cigar. Tompson places the papers 
on the piano, and joins the two pieces, leaving 
them there. 
Julian. Hello, Tompson ! 
Tompson. [Going toward him.] How are you, 
Rolfe? Glad to hear you're so much better. 

Julian. Oh, yes, I'm all right now, — or 
will be, once they let me out, and I'm at work. 
But you know what doctors and wives are. 
Tompson. Yes, I know! Life preservers. 



38 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. True ! Well, what can I do for you ? 

\Sits on the sofa; Tompson sits down beside 
him. 

Tompson. [Embarrassed.] Well — er — 

Julian. By George! What's the matter? 
You behave as if you wanted a loan ! With 
pleasure, my dear man, — anything in the 
world. Ask me for anything — except my wife 
— and with nothing but her I'd be the richest 
man you know ! 

ToikiPSON. [Smiling.] You make an old bach- 
elor like me feel pretty much out of it ! No, it's 
not money. There's ^ er — There's a scandal- 
ous article in an evening paper about Philip Long 
and Claire Forster — 

Julian. Poor old Philip, — even death didn't 
get him out of his troubles ! 

Tompson. [Continuing.] And about you. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 39 

Julian. [As if he didn't quite follow.] What? 

ToMPSON. The scandal in the article doesn't 
really concern Philip ; it has to do with you. 

Julian. [Very quietly, and smoking.] How do 
you mean? 

ToMPSON. You know, the Long family will 
not accept the idea of suicide. 

Julian. Yes. 

ToMPSON. And they are bound to leave no 
stone unturned to explain what they call the mys- 
tery of Philip's death. 

Julian. I know. 

ToMPSON. They are urging the pohce on, and 
are employing detectives of their own. 

Julian. Yes ! 

ToikiPSON. And now som.e of the Press are 
with them, and take the family's view\ 

Julian. Yes ! 



40 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. Well, to-night, one of these papers 
comes out, suggesting — insinuating — that you 
killed Philip Long — 

Julian. // Dear old Philip ! I loved him 
like a twin brother ! 

ToMPSON. The motive hinted at is jealousy of 
the woman. 

Julian. Ridiculous ! I was the woman's 
greatest enemy. And 'if I weren't, leaving out 
my mother, there's only one woman in creation 
for me — and that's Margaret — the woman I 
made my wife only one week before the tragic 
undoing of poor old Phil ! 

ToMPSON. [Going to the piano, and glancing 
down at the paper.] The paper states it has 
secured information that the detectives have 
found, in Claire Forster's flat, proof that you 
were the woman's lover. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 41 

Julian. [Angry and stern, rises.] It's a lie ! 
ToMPSON. The writer of the paper claims to 
have seen letters from you to her. 

[A change comes over Julian ; he puts his cigar 
on the tray on the table, and he sits hack, 
thoughtfully and without anger. A momenfs 
pause. 
Julian. Letters ? 
ToMPSON. Love letters ! 
Julian. But old ones ! Three years old ! 
ToMPSON. [Astonished, and with a note of 
alarm in his voice.] What! There are letters? 
Love letters of yours to her? 

Julian. There might be a few — old ones, if 
she kept them. 

ToMPSON. Kept them ! ! Of course she kept 
them! Letters are those women's certificates 
of stock ! 



42 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. But there's nothing incriminating in 
those letters. 

ToMPSON. [Drawing up a chair beside the sofa.] 
How do you know? Do you remember w^hat is 
in them? 

Julian. [With a half laugh, half sneer.] 
Hardly! Three years ago, —long before I had 
ever seen Margaret — for ten days, I thought I 
was in love with Claire Forster. I picked her 
out of a sextette, or double octette — or coon 
chorus, or something ! And she took me in. 
I was more or less of a country boy, and new at 
the game ! 

TOMPSON. But — 

Julian. There's no ^'but" about it. In ten 
days I found out just what she was. Her whole 
nature drew her back into the street ; nothing 
could save her. My decency bored her, thank 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 43 

God ! She had an itch for vice that nothing could 
cure! 

ToMPSON. Are your letters dated? 

Julian. Likely not. I'm apt just to write 
only the day of the week at the head of a letter. 
I don't know and I don't care ! That w^as ages 
ago. There may be three, there may be four. 
But they can only make me seem like a fool, — 
not like a criminal! 

ToMPSON. Did Philip know about this? 

Julian. Yes, I told him the whole thing 
when I prevented him marrying her. 

ToMPSON. When w^as that ? 

Julian. The day after Margaret and I came 
back from our honeymoon. But don't let's 
talk any more about it. 

[Rises, crosses to the piano, and touches the keys. 

ToMPSON. We must ; you may have trouble ! 



44 THE TI'OM^.V IN THE CASE 

Julian. Nonsense ! 

ToMPSON. How did you prevent the mar- 
riage ? 

Julian. [Turns a7td faces him.] Showed her 
up, of course. She'd taken him in good ! Won 
his sympathy, made him beheve he was the only 
man who had moved her better nature. 

ToMPSON. Perhaps that was true! 

Julian. True? Bah! When she'd practi- 
cally ruined him ! Turned him into a drunkard ! 

ToMPSON. You knew they were intimate? 

Julian. I knew he was mad about her, but 
thought he'd find her out, as I did. But he was 
too much in love. I told him my experience ; 
I told him others I knew of. I told him she was 
tired of the gutter, and wanted to try respecta- 
bility at any sacrifice, even of him, but that the 
old itch would come back. And that when she'd 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 45 

wrung him dry and sodden, she'd go back to the 
pavement ! 

ToMPSON. Well? 

Julian. He wouldn't believe me ! He as 
good as told me I lied. He asked me to accuse 
her to her face, — and I did ! 

[He takes out a cigar ^ and clips the end. 
ToMPSON. You did? 

Julian. Yes, the next night, the night he — 
died. 

[Takes a match. 
ToMPSON. At his rooms? 
Julian. Yes. 

[He strikes the match. 

ToMPSON. What did she do? 

Julian. [Lighting his cigar.] Fought to keep 

him, of course; lied first, and was weak; and 

then she was strong and indignant. But I 



46 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

fought, too ! Telling him first what she had 
already done for him, and what more she would 
do. I asked him what she had so far done for 
his character; what, with his ideals of life, with 
his habits even ! I asked him if he would take 
Claire Forster home to be a daughter to his old 
mother ! I said everything I could think of, 
till she lost her control completely, and gave 
herself dead away with a hysterical rage of low 
language that more than proved all I said. There 
are women like that ! If you can once get them 
started, they lose their heads, and nothing stops 
them, even if it means their own ruin ! 

ToMPSON. Then what happened? 

Julian. He gave me his word not to marry 
her, and asked me to leave them alone. I did. 
It was about midnight. He shot himself that 
morning, early. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 47 

ToMPSON. How she must hate you ! 
■ Julian. [With a shrug.] Very probably ! 

ToMPSON. She'll surely stop at nothing by 
way of revenge. 

Julian. Between her and me there's a whole 
w^orld, Tompson ! She can't harm me, let her 
try all she wants. 

Tompson. You could turn the evidence against 
her — frighten her by accusing her of the mur- 
der — 

Julian. No motive ! 

Tompson. A quarrel. 

Julian. No evidence strong enough — no — 
She wanted him living, not dead, — that's self- 
evident. 

Tompson. And what about this article? 

Julian. Nothing. Ignore it ! 

Tompson. But if the police — 



48 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. [Interrupting.] My dear old friend, 
— don't be absurd ; you are romancing. I am 
only sorry that my letters should be spoken of, 
because I must tell Margaret the story, and I'd 
have rather spared her, — that's all. 

ToMPSON. She has read the article. 

Julian. Well, I'm sure it made no impression 
on her? 

ToMPSON. No, she was only afraid you would 
be annoyed. 

Julian. To-morrow, some other paper will 
have a new story, and this will be forgotten. 

Tompson. Very probably. But it's best, in 
any case, that I should have had this explana- 
tion with you. 

Julian. Why ? 

Tompson. [Rismg.] Well, you see, if your 
letters are undated, and if this woman wants 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 49 

to make trouble, and if the police wish to make 
out a case somehow — [Sits down again.] Have 
you any proofs ? 

Julian. Of what? 

ToMPSON. That you've had nothing to do with 
Miss Forster for years. 

Julian. I've the proof of my word, of my 
love for my wife, of her confidence in me. 

ToMPSON. And mine in you ! I beUeve all 
you have said, implicitly. But you would have 
to prove it practically for a criminal court. 

Julian. [Laughs and rises.] Tompson, don't 
you worry! ''Shop" is carrying you away. 

[Enter Margaret and Mrs. Hughes. 

Margaret. Julian, they're all going to Mrs. 
Warner's for a rehearsal of their dance, you know. 

Julian. [Going toward the door.] Where are 
they? In the library? 



> [Together. 



50 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. No, down in the hall. 

[Julian goes out, and is greeted with a chorus 
of the three girls at once. 

Elsie. You're a nice man to sneak " 
away! 

Dora. You will deign to come and 
say good-by to us. 

Louise. Won't you change your 
mind and bring Margaret ? 

[Door is heard shutting outside. 

Margaret. Did you tell him? 

ToMPSON. Yes, and he ridiculed taking any 
notice of the article. 

Mrs. Hughes. As I told you he would! 

ToMPSON. [To Margaret.] He was only wor- 
ried for fear it would cause you annoyance. 

Margaret. Dear old Julian ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Well, of course, Margaret, 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 51 

you didn't expect him to feel otherwise, did 
you? 

Margaret. T didn't "expect" anything, 
mother, because I knew he would feel whatever 
was right, 

Mrs. Hughes. Really, Mr. Tompson, we've 
had all our trouble for nothing, and upset both 
our evenings. I was so comfy with everything 
tight down, and my hair off — 

Margaret. [Laughing.] What ? 

Mrs. Hughes. I mean my hair down and 
everything tight off, — and was going to have a 
restful evening. I wish I were back home. I 
didn't want to come, anyway! 

Tompson. Well, that's pretty good, consider- 
ing you came after me, and made me bring you ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Did I? 

Tompson. Emphatically you did! 



52 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Mrs. Hughes. Oh, well, then it was because 
I thought it was my duty; but I didn't believe 
in doing it, all the same. 

Margaret. Well, now, mother darling, lis- 
ten. Don't worry over Julian and me. You 
know, really, I'm sure Julian won't have it! 
He is perfectly capable of taking care of himself 
and me, and you into the bargain, if necessary. 

Mrs. Hughes. But, my dear, I'm not happy 
unless I'm w^orrying over some one. 

Margaret. Then get married again, darling ! 

Mrs. Hughes. I've half a mind to; it's so 
lonely without you ! What do you think, Mr. 
Tompson ? 

ToMPSON. Is that a proposal? 

Mrs. Hughes. Oh, dear no ! [Laughing.] If 
I should re-marry, it would be to some nice, weak 
man, like a genius, or an unlucky speculator, — 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 53 

some one who wanted to be worried over and looked 
after, — not a big, successful lawyer like you ! 

Julian. [Coming back, g«^^y-] Well, they've 
gone! 

ToMPSON. You don't sound sorry. 

Julian. Who isn't sorry ! Oh yes, of course, 
mighty nice crowd ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Well, don't be angry — but 
• I really must go, too, now ! 

[Margaret and Julian exchange amused 
glances. Margaret rings electric bell. 

ToaiPSON. [With a wink at Julian.] Don't 
you think it's a pity to leave Julian and Margaret 
all alone the best part of the evening? 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes, I'm awfully sorry ! 

Margaret. [Laughing.] Really ! 

Mrs. Hughes. But I must go home. I'm 
reading that new historical novel, and am at 



54 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

such an exciting part ! The heroine's just dis- 
guised herself as a man, and I want to finish the 
book if I can, to-night. You know, she generally 
does that two-thirds through. [Margaret go- 
ing up to her.] Good-by, dear ! [Kissing her.] 
I've had a lovely time ! I mean — I'm glad 
everything's all right. What did we come over 
here for, anyway? 

[Turning to Tompson. 

Margaret. Nothing of importance, mother. 

Mrs. Hughes. Of course, that's what I told 
him! 

[Enter Walters. 

Margaret. Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Tompson 
are going, Walters. 

Walters. Yes, m'm. 

[Goes out. 

Mrs. Hughes. Good night ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 55 

Julian. Good night ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Julian, Margaret says you 
want me to get married ! 

Julian. [Laughing.] What? 

Margaret. [Laughs.] Mother ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Well, I think I will have a last 
look round ! Good night. 

Julian and Margaret. Good night. 

[Margaret goes out with her. 

ToMPSON. [To Julian.] Good night. Don't 
put that article entirely out of your mind. I 
don't want to be an alarmist, and I agree with 
you there's nothing in it. But the best way to 
avert trouble of any kind is to be ready to meet it. 

Julian. Oh, that's all right. 

[They shake hands. 

ToMPSON. [To Margaret, whom he meets 
coming in the door.] Good night. 



56 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Good night, and thank you for 
coming over. 
ToMPSON. Not at all. 

[All repeat "Good night." Margaret closes 

the door, turns, and faces Julian. They 

look at each other a second, half amused, hut 

with love in their eyes. The smile dies out; 

Margaret puts her hands on Julian's 

shoulders, and looks up lovingly into his eyes. 

Margaret. [Softly.] Dear Julian! 

Julian. [Puts his arms about her, and draws 

her to him. He kisses her, and speaks softly.] 

My darling wife ! 

Margaret. [With her head on his shoulder.] 
Mother hated to leave us alone ! 

[Both laugh. 

Julian. Margaret, what a lucky man I am ! 

[Leading her to the sofa. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 57 

Margaret. Nonsense ! The luck is all on 
my side. Shall we have some music? Do you 
feel able? 

Julian. Yes, indeed ! But later ! First, I've 
something I want to tell you. 

[He makes a jnovement for them to sit down; 
she hangs back. 

Margaret. That article about Philip Long? 
Don't trouble ! 

Julian. It isn't trouble, dear. At least, I 
feel it's better to tell you w^hat there is to 
tell. 

Margaret. Very well, Julian, if you wish. 
But of course I don't believe a word in the 
article ! 

Julian. Yet in a way some of it is true. 

[They sit down. 

Margaret. In what way? 



58 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. Well, once I did write a couple of 
love letters to Miss Forster. 

Margaret. [Smilingly.] No, I don't believe 
you. You're trying to tease me. 

Julian. No, it's true ! But it was three 
years ago. Before I knew you even, I had 
broken with her. I won't insult the word 
"love" by using it in connection with her; but 
I believed in her. And in something like a fort- 
night she herself disillusioned me ! I was a boy 
as far as women w^ere concerned. I'd always 
been a man's man, caring only for man's com- 
pany. I wasn't a w^oman-hater ; it was only I 
hadn't come in contact with them, and didn't 
miss woman then — to be honest. 

Margaret. And now ? 

Julian. Now ! ! Now ! ! ! [His arms about her.] 
This old story, foolish and empty, hasn't made 
you doubt me, has it? 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 59 

Margaret. No, no ! 

Julian. [Holds her in his arms.] All my 
time, all my desires, as a very young man, had 
been wrapt up in my profession. Do you for- 
give me ? 

Margaret. Of course ! Of course ! ! 

Julian. When I met you, I'd already for- 
gotten the woman. My experience hadn't em- 
bittered me. I knew she was a bad lot, and I'd 
forgotten her. 

Margaret. But you'd seen many other 
women since that, — before you met me ! 

Julian. By George, yes ! Millions ! ! Some 
made my eyelashes quiver just a little, perhaps ! 
But I was on my guard ! And when I met you, 
I stopped right then ! And before long I knew 
here was the real thing — love that you read 
about — lasting, faithful ! You believe me, 
Margaret ? 



6o THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Yes. [Rising, and looking at him, 
with her hands on his shoulder.] And, Julian, I 
don't ask to be your first love; I only want to 
be your last. Come, let's play. 

Julian. [Rising.] You understand, I never 
saw or thought of Claire Forster again, till I 
found her trying to ruin my friend ! 

Margaret. I understand everything good of 
you, Julian, and nothing bad. [He puts his arms 
about her.] I understand how I love you, first 
and last and always. I have perfect faith in you ! 
You represent life in this world to me. I love 
you — and I believe in your love for me. That's 
all I can say. I mean ten million times more 
than that. But I know of no words to say it in. 
And if I did know the words, then they would 
fall short still ten million times of what my love 
and your love mean to me ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 6i 

Julian. Thank you ! I wish I were worthier 
of you. I feel so ashamed of the story I've told 
you. 

Margaret. Don't ! I've forgotten it ! You 
forget it, too ! Come, we'll play, and that'll 
drive it out of our minds. [Going to piano.] 
You hear me ! It's to be driven out of our minds 
for good ! [He kisses her. 

Julian. Bless you, Margaret ! [They go to the 
piano, Margaret to the Left. Julian sits.\ 
What shall we play ? 

Margaret. What you want ! 

• [Taking out her violin. 
Julian. No, what you want ! 

[They laugh at each other. 
Margaret. I w^ant what you choose ! 
Julian. That's just the way I feel. 

[They both laugh again. 



62 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Now, we are a foolish pair of 
lovers ! 
Julian. [Picking up a piece of music] This? 
Margaret. [Looking at it.] Yes. 

[As they are getting ready to play. 
Julian. How thoughtful of Mrs. Warner to 
have had her rehearsal, and taken our guests 
away ! 

Margaret. Yes ! I'm afraid she» didn't do 

it purposely, but it was nice of her, all the same ! 

Julian. Our guests were very nice. But — ! 

Margaret. Exactly! ''But"! How happy 

we are alone together, Julian, in our own 

home. 

[He seizes her hand, which holds the how, and 
kisses it. Then they begin to play. Once or 
twice they look at each other and smile as they 
play. After a few seconds, the door opens 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 63 

and a Police Inspector enters -with 
Walters. A Policeman is in the hall 
outside. 
Walters. Mr. Rolfe, this man insists — 

[They stop playing, and Julian rises. 
Inspector. [Coming down to them.] Is this 
Mr. Julian Rolfe? 

Julian. It is. Why do you come into my 
house like this? What do you want? 

Inspector. [Very quietly.] I have an order 
for your arrest. 

Margaret. What ! 

Inspector. I'm very sorry to break in on 
you like this, m'm. 

Julian. Come, this is some practical joke ! 
Inspector. Practical joke ! Good God, what 
do you take me for? [He goes to the door, opens 
it, and calls:] Sweeney ! 



64 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Sweeney. [Appears at the door.] Yes, sir. 

[Margaret puts down her violin. 

Inspector. Captain Warren there? 

Warren. [Answering from outside.] Yes, sir! 

Inspector. All right. 

[Closes the door. 

Margaret. Julian ! 

Inspector. Excuse me, but this is no joke! 

Julian. You've really come here to arrest 
me? 

Inspector. Yes, sir, and I hope you'll make 
my duty as easy as possible for us both, by com- 
ing with me quietly. 

Margaret. Julian ! 

Julian. Wait in the hall, Walters. 

Walters. Yes, sir. [Goes out. 

Julian. But what are you arresting me for? 

Inspector. For the murder of Philip Long. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 65 

Margaret. No ! No ! It's impossible. Why, 
you're crazy ! My husband was PhiUp Long's 
best friend ! My husband is a man whose char- 
acter is above reproach. You can't bring a charge 
like that against my husband ! Why, half New 
York will rise to resist you — fight you ! 

Julian. One minute, Margaret, dear, — please ! 
[To Inspector.] Where's your warrant? 

Inspector. [Hands Julian the warrant. To 
Margaret.] It's the State who's bringing the 
charge, —not I, m'm. 

Margaret. [Growing excited.] But do you 
mean to tell me that in a free country like ours, 
an innocent man can be taken by force at night 
from his own house, from his wife's arms, and 
without any redress? 

Julian. [Calmingly.] Margaret, dear ! [To the 
Inspector.] Where are you going to take me? 



66 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Inspector. To the nearest station house, 
to-night, where the charge wiU be formally 
entered. 

Margaret. [Aghast.] The charge! 

[Julian makes a tender, calming gesture toward 
her. 

Inspector. To-morrow morning you will ap- 
pear before — 

Margaret. But my husband's ill ! He's an 
ill man ! 

Julian. What about bail? 

Margaret. [Quickly.] Yes, I'll get bail some- 
where ! Who shall I go to, Julian ? There are 
fifty rich men who'd come to your assistance, I 
know ! 

Inspector. I can't say anything about bail. 
It's for the Judge to decide ; but I'm afraid you 
mustn't count on bail in a case of this sort. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 67 

Julian. In a case like this where there can be 
absolutely no proof? 

Inspector. Excuse me, — it's not my business 
to discuss the case with you, but to take you to 
the station house. Only, I advise you to take 
along anything you may want in the w^ay of 
clothes or comforts you're allowed, because, take 
my w^ord for it, the proofs are enough to rob you 
of your chance of bail. 

Margaret. [Much more excited.] It's a lie ! 
Do you hear me, it's a lie ! Julian ! 

Julian. Keep calm, dear! 

Inspector. I take it you don't read the even- 
ing papers ! 

Julian. You're arresting me on that article 
about my letters? 

Margaret. He wrote them years ago ! He — • 

Julian. [To Margaret, kindly.] Ssh ! 



68 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Inspector. The woman has made a very 
damaging statement which will be read to you. 
Are you ready to go with me? 

Julian. Oh ! She's made a statement, has she ? 

Margaret. Yes, but you can't take the word 
of a creature like that, who is perhaps lying to 
save herself ! 

Inspector. Are you ready to come ? 

Margaret. [More excited, verging on hysterics.] 
No ! No ! You can't take him away like this ! 
You sha'n't ! 

Julian. Margaret ! 

Margaret. He's been ill, I tell you ! You 
can't take him away, to sleep where or how ! 
You've no right to risk his life ! 

Julian. Margaret, I must go ! But it'll be 
all right. I'll be back soon — maybe to-morrow. 
[Going to her.] Good night, dear. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 69 

Margaret. [Hysterical.] No ! No ! I can't 
bear it, Julian ! I realize better than you the 
risk you're running. He's been ill for two 
months ; he hasn't been out of the house yet ! 
Let him stay home to-night. I give you my 
word he'll be here to-morrow morning. Give 
him your word, too, Julian ! 

Julian. That's impossible. The law's the 
law ! I'm perfectly able to go witfi this man. 
Calm yourself, if you love me ! And say good 
night. [She tries to calm her hysteria; he em- 
braces and kisses her ; she sobs hysterically. He 
turns to the Inspector.] I'm ready ! 

Margaret. Oh, no ! Not yet ! Not yet ! 
Perhaps we can think of some way ! 

Inspector. There's no way. Madam, except 
the way to the station house. If your husband 
is innocent, he'll prove it. But meanwhile — 



70 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Interrupting, and clinging to 
Julian.] No, Julian, don't go ! Refuse to go ! 
They really can't make you. You didn't do 
this dreadful thing, and you know it, and can 
prove it, without their taking you away! Don't 
go! Don't go! 

Julian. My love ! My love ! Be strong ! 

Inspector. Come now, Madam. He's got 
to go ; he knows, and he's willing. You're only 
making things worse. 

Margaret. No, I'm not ! I tell you he isn't 
fit to go out to-night, and to go to such a 
horror! 

Julian. [In agony at her suffering.] Mar- 
garet ! 

Margaret. A chill, the strain, anything might 
bring back his illness ! It'd kill him ! He 
sha'n't go ! I won't let him ! Do you hear me ? 



THE WOMAX IX THE CASE 71 

I'll hang on to you both, to hold you back ; and 
God'll give me strength ! 

Inspector. Come along ! 

Julian. [Aside to the Inspector.] No ! Call 
in your men and take me away as if by force ! 
Once I'm gone, it'll be easier for her. 

Margaret. Do you hear me? You sha'n't 
take him out of this room, — at any rate without 
me! 

Julian. [To the Inspector.] Quick ! 

[The Inspector goes toward the door. 

Margaret. [In an ecstacy, thinking he's going 
to leave them.] You'll leave him I ! Oh, thank 
you ! Thank you ! He'll be here to-morrow, I 
promise you ! We'll both be here ! You won't 
be sorry ! 

Inspector. I'm not going to leave him ! I want 
my men. [Opens the door and calls:] Sweeney! 



72 THE WOMAN IN. THE CASE 

Margaret. Julian ! 

[Running to him, and embracing him; he tries 
to calm her. 

Sweeney. [As he comes in.] Yes, sir. 

Inspector. Take charge of this man ! 

Sweeney. Yes, sir. 

[Going to Julian. 

Margaret. [Hysterical, — almost beside herself.] 
No! No! 

Julian. I must go with him, dear, and you're 
making it so hard for me ! 

[Going. 

Margaret. Then take me, too ! Let me go 
with him. Arrest me, too ! 

[Going after them, and catching hold of Julian. 

Inspector. No, Madam ! 

Margaret. Yes! Yes! That's all I ask, 
now. Take me with him ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 73 

Inspector. It can't be ! 

Julian. Stay here, dear ! Stay here ! 

Margaret. [Beside herself.] No ! No ! Take 
me, too. I will go, too ! 

Inspector. [Pulling her away from Julian.] 
No! 

Julian. [To the Inspector.] Be careful ! 

[Julian, the Policeman and Inspector move 
toward door. 

Margaret. [Quite beside herself, half screams, 
half cries.] No, I can't bear it. You sha'n't 
separate us ! Julian ! [Running to them, she 
clings to Julian at the door. He tries tenderly 
to free himself from her, hut can^t. The Police- 
man and Inspector pull him through the door, 
dragging her along, as she clings to Julian.] They 
sha'n't separate us ! I will go with you, Julian, 
I will go with you ! 



74 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

[Julian tries to calm her with "Margaret, my 

dear little woman." The double doors are 

open, and they are heard in the hall outside. 

Inspector. [Taking Julian's arm.] You must 

get rid of her ! [The Policeman closes the doors, 

Margaret is heard crying that she won't leave 

him, and the Inspector, loud, angry, losing at 

last his control, says : ] By God, you must let 

go of him ! 

Margaret. [Of stage.] No ! No ! You'll see ! 
Inspector. [Of stage.] Sweeney, throw the 
woman off ! 
Julian. [Off stage.] No ! 
Margaret. [Screayns.] No ! 
[There is a loud hang on the door, as Margaret's 
body strikes it. The door bursting open, she 
falls in, and tumbles on the floor, crying, 
"Julian! Julian!" 



THE WOMAN IX THE CASE 75 

Julian. [Of stage.] Damn you for a beast ! 
Inspector. [Of stage.] Here, come along. 
I've stood all I can, now. The door, Warren ! 
Margaret. [On the floor, helpless in her hys- 
teria, raises herself on her elbow, calling out:] 
Julian ! Julian ! 

THE CXJRTAIN FALLS 



ACT II 

Scene : Visitors^ Room at the Tombs 

[Margaret, Mrs. Hughes, and Tompson 
shown in by the attendant. 

Mrs. Hughes. [To Margaret.] Oh, dear, is 
this where you have to see him every time? 

Margaret. Yes, mother. 

Mrs. Hughes. What awful taste! They 
might have furnished it better. Look how well 
they do hotels now ! 

Tompson. You mustn't forget that the guests 
of smart hotels pay well. Here, the guests pay 
nothing, except with their consciences. 

Margaret. Julian is paying a heavy price, 
but not with his conscience. 
76 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 77 

ToMPSON. That's true ! But to punish the 
guilty, the innocent must sometimes suffer. 
It's the history of the world ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Do you know, the place gets 
quite on my nerves ! I really feel faint ! 

Margaret. [Going to her mother.] Oh, mother, 
no ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes, really. Do you think 
Julian will be here soon? 

ToMPSON. [Looking at his watch.] Well, we're 
a little ahead of our time, but I think he'll be 
here presently. 

jNIrs. Hughes. Do you think he'd feel very 
badly if I didn't wait? [Rising.] I'll leave my 
card here, do you see, and turn down the end to 
show I really came myself ; but, of course, you'll 
be here and could tell him ! 

Margaret. [Rising and giving the card hack to 



78 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Mrs. Hughes.] Don't leave your card, mother, 

— leave your love. I'll give it to Julian, — and 

you go. It's just as well, because Mr. Tompson 

and I will have much to say about the case to 

him. 

Mrs. Hughes. I know, and I'd like to stay 
here and advise, but I really do feel so awfully 
upset by the whole thing ! To think that a 
son-in-law of Mrs. Winifred Hughes should be in 
this place ! 

Margaret. Yes, yes, mother ! I think it's 
better you should go. Your nerves won't stand 
it. 

[She motions to Tompson, who opens the door. 

Mrs. Hughes. I really oughtn't to have come. 
I knew I oughtn't, but you persuaded me! 

Margaret. No, mother, I begged you not to 
come, but you insisted! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 79 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes, I know, — I thought you 
meant you wanted me to. I can't go out alone ! 

Margaret. There's a man there who'll show 
you the way. 

[The Attendant appears. 

Attendant. This way, Madam. 

Mrs. Hughes. Thank you. [To Margaret.] 
Give him my love ! 

Margaret. Yes. 

[Mrs. Hughes goes out. Tompson and Mar- 
garet come hack into the room. 

Tompson. Shall I leave you alone with Rolfe, 
and come back? 

Margaret. When he comes, if you would ! 
— for a few minutes. 

Tompson. Of course, of course ! 

Margaret. But not for long. [She smiles 
sadly.] You keep me calm ! 



8o THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. Don't you worry about yourself. 
You're wonderful, Mrs. Rolfe, in your self-posses- 
sion and nerve ! 

Margaret. You're very good, but I lost 
control of myself entirely, that awful night, three 
weeks ago. 

ToMPSON. Oh, but that was natural — natural. 

Margaret. I was tired out by all my anxiety 
during his illness, I suppose, — because I'm not 
naturally an overstrung woman. 

ToMPSON. You don't have to tell me that, now, 
after the way you've behaved these three weeks ! 

Margaret. Still, I feel if only you'd been 
there when it happened, if they'd only come a 
little earlier in the evening, when you were there, 
I wouldn't have gone to pieces so ! I blame 
myself, because it made it all the more terrible 
for him. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 8i 

ToMPSON. You still feel absolutely convinced 
he was totally unprepared? 

Margaret. [Surprised.] Why, yes, — of 
course! What a funny question for you to ask 
me! 

ToMPSON. Oh, that's my business, you know, 
— asking every kind of question. 

Margaret. Yes, — but — ? 

\With a look oj suspicion. 

ToMPSON. I think it so unfortunate that Rolfe 
never told you of his little affair with Miss For- 
ster. 

Margaret. It wasn't an affair ! 

ToMPSON. Well, whatever you want to call 
it! 

Margaret. But he did. 

ToMPSON. Yes, when the cat was out of the 
bag; when the letters were published. 



82 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. But — 

ToMPSON. Don't you see how that will tell 
against him ? 

Margaret. No ! 

ToMPSON. He only tells you when forced to, 
and then claims the letters were three years 
old. 

Margaret. He doesn't claim; he states a 
fact. They were ! 

ToMPSON. But the dates on them are only a 
few days before the murder ! 

Margaret. Forged, of course, — you know 
that ! 

ToMPSON. Yes, and anyway, I suppose we 
must leave that to the writing experts. We'll 
at least see that we furnish as many as they 
do! 

Margaret. But — but you are arguing with 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 83 

me as if your confidence had — as if you 
thought — 

ToMPSON. I'm thinking nothing. I'm only 
trying to look at everything from every 
side. 

[She glances at him doubtfully a second, then 
speaks emphatically. 

Margaret. There is only one side to look at, 
— Julian's absolute and entire innocence, which 
no one who even knows him slightly can doubt 
for a moment ! 

ToMPSON. That's all right as a point of view 
for his wife, but not for his lawyer, who wants 
to save him. 

Margaret. [Going to the window.] There 
couldn't be such a miscarriage of justice. 

ToMPSON. I could cite you several instances, 
within your mem.ory in the last fifteen years in 



84 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

New York, where men have expiated the crime 
of murder, with their friends and family and 
many of the pubUc absolutely convinced of their 
entire innocence. 

Margaret. [Turning on him.] Oh, but it's 
cruel of you to talk like this to me ! Why do 
you! 

ToMPSON. Because I must rouse you to a real- 
ization of the fact that the evidence in this case, 
rightly or wrongly, is terribly against your 
husband ! 

Margaret. Wrongly ! Wrongly ! ! 

ToMPSON. [Quietly.] Of course ! But we 
must work every second, and in every direction, 
all the same, to help him. [Margaret turns 
away, half crying, to control herself.] I'm sorry to 
seem to be so hard, and to have to be cruel. 
You must take my word for that ! 



Margaret. [Her eyes filling with tears.] But 
I can't help feeling a change in you — in your 
mind and heart — about him. I don't know 
what it is, I can't put my hand on any special 
thing, but I feel it — I don't know — it's an 
instinct which women have. You have wavered 
in your confidence ! 

ToMPSON. [Going to her.] Faw haven't? 

Margaret. No ! ! 

ToMPSON. Well, I don't say I have. Perhaps 
I feel I've not been told everything; that Ju- 
lian, for some reason or other, hasn't been per- 
fectly frank ! 

Margaret. What reason? There couldn't be 
any! 

ToMPSON. For instance, just as he kept back 
his acquaintance with her. 

Margaret. But he's made a clean breast of 



86 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

that, and of everything, you can be sure, that 

has to do with Miss Forster. 

ToMPSON. And with PhiHp Long? 

Margaret. And with PhiUp Long. I am 
sure of it ! 

ToMPSON. [Turning on her very quickly and 
sharply.] Do you know anything, — no matter 
what — no matter how trivial, — that I don't 
know ? 

Margaret. [Stands still a moment, searching in 
her mind, in her memory. Tompson watches her 
closely. After a minute, she speaks slowly:] No 
— no ! I'm sure I don't ! [He watches her in 
silence, to read in her face if she is speaking the 
truth. After a pause:] But you are taking the 
offensive attitude with us — with me ! Why ? 
Why do you — ? 

ToiMPSON. If I am to save him, I must know 
everything — everything ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE Sy 

Margaret. [Going to him, frightened and yet 
confident.] But you do ! You do ! 

ToMPSON. There is a most damaging new 
piece of evidence come up in the case. The 
other side tried to keep it secret, — to spring upon 
us in the trial, — but, fortunately, a newspaper got 
hold of it, and we have our chance to refute it — 
[he adds, almost to himself] if we can, 

Margaret. [Eager, anxious, distressed.] What 
is it? 

ToMPSON. Wait till he comes, and I'll tell you 
both together. 

Margaret. And he'll explain it away to you 
in a moment, if it's honest evidence. [Julian 
is shown in. He is very pale, but otherwise looks 
well.] Julian ! 

[She hurries to him; they embrace. 

Julian. How are you, Tompson ? 

[They shake hands. 



88 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. How do you feel, Julian? Are 
you well? 

Julian. My dear girl, I never felt better in 
my life ! You mustn't worry about my health. 
I'd like to get out into the air, but I assure you 
that the doctor's orders have been so carefully 
carried out as to enforced quiet and rest — [with a 
smile] that I'm entirely well again ! Any news? 

[They all sit down. 

Margaret. [Quickly.] Yes, dear Julian! 
And the same good news always ! Everyone 
I know, believing in you absolutely, — fighting 
for you ! Everyone too kind for words to me ! 
I've not heard a soul who doubts that the trial 
will be a triumph for you. You've seen the 
letter in this morning's — 

Julian. Yes, it was fine, wasn't it? And all 
this good-will, of course, means a lot to me, es- 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 89 

pecially for your sake ! [They sit side by side, 
holding each other's hands.] But I mean, have 
you any practical news? How is the case pro- 
gressing, Tompson? 

ToMPSON. I want to look over a paper or two, 
outside. I'll come back in a few minutes, and go 
over everything with you. 

Julian. [To stop him.] But — ? 

Margaret. [To Julian aside, interrupting 
him.] No ! He wants to leave us alone. Let 
him. ^ [Smiling. 

[Tompson goes out. 

Julian. [Embracing Margaret again.] My 
poor, darhng Margaret, .what you have to bear ! 
And for me — that's so hard ! 

Margaret. [Resting in his arms, with her head 
on his shoulder.] Shh ! Listen, dearest, I've 
something very important to tell you while he's 



go THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

out of the room — something I've only just now 

discovered. 

[Looking at him. 

Julian. Yes, dear? 

Margaret. Mr. Tompson is lukewarm. 

Julian. How do you mean ? 

Margaret. [Rising.] I don't know. I don't 
feel satisfied. I wonder if- we ought to bring in 
another firm? 

Julian. You don't mean he doubts for a 
moment the impossibility of my being guilty of 
the crime of Philip's death? 

Marg.aret. [Quickly.] No, no ! Of course 
not, — I don't say that, — only — I don't know ! 
To-day, he asks me all sorts of questions, and such 
odd questions, — as to whether you'd told me 
everything, and whether you'd told him every- 
thing you'd told me — and — 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 91 

Julian. And what did you say? 

Margaret. I don't remember. I only know, 
of course, I told him you had no secrets about this, 
from me or him ! 

Julian. Not one ! 

[Taking her two hands. 

Margaret. No, don't say it ! I want you to 
feel I know it, without your saying it. Oh, 
Julian, how I suffer for you ! 

JuliAn. That's one of the strangely cruel 
things about it all. I feel as if, were it only my- 
self, I could bear it so much easier. But it's the 
thought of y(?2f .^ And with you, it's the thought 
of me ! 

Margaret. If I could only be here in the 
prison with you — share it all with you ! 

Julian. But think what I would feel at your 
being here in these surroundings — for me ! 



92 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Sighing.] Yes, I know, I know, 
— and I've my work to do for you, outside. 
Well, you think it's all right, then, for us to keep 
on with Tompson ? 

Julian. Oh, yes ; as far as I can judge, he 
seems to be doing everything. I'm sure of 
it! 

Margaret. And after all, whoever we have, 
whatever he does, they can't help but free you, 
my good Julian ! 

Julian. I hope so. I believe so, Margaret ! 
Of course, if I allowed myself to dwell on my 
being here — in all this strain, under this awful 
cloud, almost disgraced by the mere fact of the 
accusation — 

Margaret. [Interrupting, with her arm about 
him.] Oh, no, JuHan, you mustn't say that ! 

Julian. But it's true! I am a respectable 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 93 

and respected citizen of this city, who's never 
done a dishonorable action in my Hfe ! 

Margaret. [With perfect confidence.] Never ! 

Julian. Never even done a tricky thing in 
business ! 

Margaret. I'm sure of it ! 

Julian. [Goes on, scarcely noticing Margaret's 
interruptions. He rises.] With a perfectly clean 
record, publicly and privately, I can yet be hauled 
up — accused of a crime, clapped into jail, forced 
to stand trial for my life ! Why, it's inconceiv- 
able ! ■ It's like the Middle Ages ! 

Margaret. [Going on.] It's an outrage ! It's 
a dastardly outrage ! 

Julian. No, — for if you reason it out in cold 
blood, how else can the criminal laws of the state 
be properly carried out? 

Margaret. [Striking the table.] Any other 



94 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

way ! Any other way that will prevent an 

innocent man suffering what you have ! 

Julian. [Looks at her^ with a smile.] And an 
innocent woman, dearest. [Putting his arm 
around her.] No, I guess our laws are better 
made than we could make them. 

[ToMPSON knocks at the door. 

Margaret. Come in. 

[ToMPSON enters. 

ToMPSON. [To Margaret.] Now, I'm going 
to ask a favor of you, — turn about is fair play. 
I want you to give me fifteen minutes alone with 
your husband. 

Margaret. No ! Why ? You told me you 
had some serious evidence against us to tell 
Julian. I wish to hear it, too ! 

Julian. [Quickly.] What is that ? 

ToMPSON. There are several matters which 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 95 

I wish to discuss with your husband, which I feel 
we could better speak of without your presence. 

Margaret. Why ? 

Julian. If Mr. Tompson really w^ishes, Mar- 
garet — ? 

Margaret. No ! I don't want anything good 
or bad kept from me. I don't want to be shut 
out from you in any of this ordeal of yours. I 
want to share it all, — all with you. You have 
no secrets from me, I know, Julian ! 

Julian. None ! 

Margaret. And you don't want to have any, 
do you ? 

Julian. No, but if Mr. Tompson — 

Margaret. No ! I don't wish to offend Mr. 
Tompson, — [she turns to him] as I hope you 
know, but I am not willing for you to question 
my husband, and without me here. You haven't 



96 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

got the faith I have; you showed that to me 
just now. You're weakening. I daren't leave 
you for long, ever again, Mr. Tompson, until this 
case is finished. Your faith in my husband is 
like a flame dying down. [Tompson makes a 
gesture of disse7tt.] It is ! And I'm going to 
watch that flame, day and night, and feed it with 
my own faith, and keep it alive ! And I won't 
leave him alone with you unless Julian insists 
on my going. 

Tompson. I only wanted you to go so as to 
spare you some extra pain which it doesn't seem 
necessary at present to inflict on you. 

Julian. Then, why not go, Margaret? 

Margaret. No, don't ask ! Please don't ask 
me to shirk any pain that I can share with you. 
Besides, pain or not, I want to know 
■ — just what we have to fight ! 



THE WOMAX IN THE CASE 97 

Julian. \Who is standing beside her, with his 
arms around her, gives her a hug, ajtd says 
impulsively to Tompson, with a smile:] What a 
bully little woman she is ! 

ToMPSON. Very well ! They've got a letter 
of Philip Long's, written to you the very day of 
his death, which they claim is enough to prove 
their case against you ! 

Julian. But I never received any such 
letter. 

ToMPSON. No, — they claim it was never 
sent. It was found among his effects lately. 

Margaret. Huh! A forgery, like the dates 
on Julian's letters to her ! 

ToMPSON. I have reason to believe the letter 
is authentic ; though, of course, if it's offered as 
evidence, we will put our experts to work on it. 
I have a copy of the letter here. 



[With excite- 

ment, both speak- 
ing in the same 
haste. 



98 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Going quickly 
to him.] Here ! 

Julian. Why didn't you 
say so ! 

Margaret. What does it 
say? 

ToMPSON. [Reading.] ''JuHan, I have found 
out quite by accident — not from her — that 
you were here to see Claire to-day." 

Julian. I went that morning to see her pri- 
vately, to ask her to break off with Philip of her 
own accord — to frighten her into doing it, if I 
could, without the scene with all three — which 
I knew would only be brutal and degrading for 
Philip, — in fact, for all of us ! 

ToMPSON. I see. Your visit at night was the 
second visit that day ? 

Julian. Yes, that time we went together. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 99 

Margaret. You know, of course, Philip and 
he together. 

ToMPSON. Well, but what I can't possibly 
understand is, why I have never heard of this 
morning visit before ! 

[Margaret looks at Julian, confident of his 
sure answer. 

Julian. I didn't think to tell you. 

ToMPSON. Didn't think ! Didn't think ! ! 

Margaret. It wasn't successful ! He has 
told of the second, the important visit ! 

Julian. Miss Forster was out when I called. 
I didn't see her, — that is why I didn't mention 
the visit. It didn't count then. 

ToMPSON. I'm afraid you'll find it will count 
now, and strong against you ! 

Margaret. Oh! 

Julian. When I met Philip at his club, in the 



loo THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

evening, he was in a half-drunken rage with me, 
as I've stated in my evidence. We had all this 
out, then. He accused me of every kind of 
treachery, but I knew he didn't know what he 
was saying, and I easily forgave him — especially 
as I was on my way then with him to prove his 
jealousy wholly wrong. 

ToMPSON. The letter goes on — [Reads.] 
''When I told Claire of your visit, she pretended 
not to know anything about it, — not to have 
seen you, — but I soon saw she was trying to 
protect you, know^ing w^hat friends we w^ere — ■ 
so I made her ow^n up to the truth. I told her 
you were moving Heaven and Hell to keep me 
from marrying her, and then she out with it: 
that you had been to see her that morning — 
and many mornings; that she had love letters 
from you she could show me, to prove w^hat she 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE loi 

said ; and that the only reason you were against 
her and my marriage was because you were in love 
with her yourself. You're a damn fine friend ! 
And by G — " The rest isn't fit to read. 

[He lays the letter down on the table. 

Margaret. Nor was what you have read fit 
to read, either ! 

Julian. Poor, rotten chap ! She'd got her 
devilish work in with him already ! What a 
dear, good sort he used to be, — and gone to the 
dogs through that woman ! Of course he was 
drunk when he wrote that letter — drunk when 
she told him all that rigmarole about me ! It 
seems to me I do remember his saying something 
about having written a letter — when we had our 
row in my rooms. 

ToMPSON. You had a row with him, then? 
That night ? 



I02 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. No ! Not a row exactly ! He came 
in with this same story, and I gave it the he. 
I could always influence his better nature. He 
practically believed me when we started out for 
his rooms. That's when he said something about 
a letter he was glad he hadn't sent. 

Margaret. He believed in you, even when he 
wrote that letter, and that's why he never sent 
it. 

ToMPSON. That's a good theory. People 
write in a rage, and don't send the letter on 
second thoughts, knowing it may not be the 
best thing after all. I hope we can persuade 
the jury of that. But then, there's the 
woman. 

Julian. How? 

ToMPSON. Well, if she swears that what's in 
the letter is true, you've got her word, supported 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 103 

by the letter, against only your unsupported 
explanation. 

Julian. Hum ! They'll produce Claire For- 
ster, of course, for their principal witness? 

ToMPSON. Oh, naturally ! 

Julian. Well, but then you'll cross-examine 
her? 

ToMPSON. Certainly. 

Julian. Surely you'll be able to trip her up 
in her tissue of lies. 

Tompson. Not surely. She'll be prepared for 
a tough time with us ; she'll be primed ! She'll 
be ready for anything ! 

Julian. And she's very clever ! 

Tompson. [Serious, hut kind.] Then there's a 
lot of terribly strong circumstantial proof against 
you. [Margaret rises. 

Julian. I see it, — I begin to see it ! 



I04 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. If you'd only gone straight home 
when you left Long and her together. 

Julian. I couldn't ! My brain was on fire ! 
I had to walk it off in the cool of the night. I 
walked for two hours in the Park. 

ToMPSON. Exactly, and in that second hour 
he killed himself, and you can't prove an alibi. 
It's as if the Devil himself had planned it ! If 
you'd only met a policeman in the Park. 

Julian. Perhaps I did ! I didn't notice. If 
I'd only been seen leaving her house at half past 
twelve. 

ToiviPSON. But you weren't. We can't get 
a single witness of that sort. Why did you keep 
it hidden you'd ever know^n this woman? 

Julian. Was it a thing to boast of ? 

ToMPSON. Those love letters dated the week 
of the murder ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 105 

Julian. The writing experts'll prove the dates 
false. 

ToMPSON. You don't know those experts. 
There'll be as many to prove them true. 

Margaret. You think that, — you don't 
know ! 

ToMPSON. Well, leave everything else, and 
just consider what's come up to-day ! — this 
damning letter of Long's to tally with the forged 
date of your love letters to her ! 

[Margaret goes to the table, and takes up the letter, 

Margaret. He can explain it! 

Julian. Juries don't want explanations, dear ; 
they want proofs ! 

[He takes the letter from Margaret, and looks 
at it. 

ToMPSON. This morning visit to her, which I 
only found out to-day — suppose that had been 



io6 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

sprung on us at the trial ! ! It might have, there 
and then. 

Margaret. [In distress.] You see ! You see ! 
I tell you, your faith is weakening ! 

[Almost in tears. Julian turns and puts his 
hand on her shoulder. 

ToMPSON. And then this quarrel with him be- 
fore you went to his house. First you say a 
quarrel, and then no quarrel. You contradict 
yourself, — [Margaret looks up] you deny, you 
explain. But you prove nothing. You prove 
nothing! On the contrary!! I won't dare put 
you in the witness-box. 

Margaret. Put me! I'll prove how deep 
and true his love for me was at that very time. 
No man is such a blackguard as they want to 
make out Julian, that he could love another 
woman at the very moment he was marrying 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 107 

me. I tell you there was never a happier bride 
in the world than he made me ! That must 
prove something ! 

ToMPSON. [Going toward them, in a lowered 
voice.] Here, in these four walls, with no one to 
hear but her who loves you above everything, 
and I, who want to-day — more than anything 
else in the world, — to save you, but in order 
to do that, as your lawyer, must be told the truth, 
all the truth! — come, tell me, so help you God, 
the truth now, and I will believe you ! You 
did not kill Philip Long? 

[Julian looks up at him, horrified. 

Margaret. Julian, I told you ! Oh, that 
you should have to suffer that ! Don't answer 
him, — he doesn't deserve it ! 

Julian. [Very quietly, after looking into Tomp- 
soN's/ace.] No, I didn't kill my friend ! 



io8 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. You had a quarrel, perhaps, and 
in the heat of the quarrel — 

Julian. No ! 

ToMPSON. Say he wasn't your friend, — say 
he was your enemy, — he insulted you — per- 
haps your wife ? 

Julian. No! No! 

Margaret. Julian ! Julian ! [She throws her 
arms around him, and holds him fast.] You sha'n't 
ask him any more such brutal questions. 

ToMPSON. [Still quietly, but firmly.] He may 
have made the first attack on you ! Furious 
at the insults you were piling on the woman he 
loved, — you struck in self-defense, perhaps — 

Margaret. [Interrupting him.] No ! No ! 1 
No!!! 

Julian. [Quietly, firmly.] I did not raise my 
hand against my friend ; I did not hurt him — • 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 109 

let alone kill him, — and I am and always have 
been telling you the truth. 

ToMPSON. [After a few seconds' pause, looking 
Julian straight in the eyes.] Thank God I I 
wanted to believe it, and / do! [Jo Margaret.] 
Forgive me ! Remember, you're his wife, — and 
let me tell you, your faith has helped to keep 
mine alive — and it will save him, if anything 
can. 

Margaret. My faith in him is more than 
human, — it comes from my very soul, and you 
know in our souls lives whatever there is of the 
divine in us. 

[The Attendant enters. 

Attendant. Excuse me, Mr. Rolfe's time is up. 

Margaret. [Turning to 'i^JiAX^.] Already? 

ToMPSON. But we must tell you the good 
news ! The trial is set for the March calendar. 



no THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. Not till then? 

ToMPSON. Ah, but we will need that time! 
They're making out a strong case and, although 
it is a false one, we will have plenty to do, between 
now and then, getting material and proof and 
witnesses to combat their evidence ! 

Julian. Yes, I suppose so, I suppose so ! 
[He turns to Margaret, handing the letter to 
ToMPSON.] It's strange, I don't understand why, 
but I can't feel the horror, — I can't realize the 
position. 

Margaret. That's because you're incapable 
of even imagining yourself in the position of a 
man who had done the dreadful thing they 
accuse you of. 

ToMPSON. Yes, if you were guilty, you'd 
realize it easy enough. And now I want you to 
go to work, and search your memory through and 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE m 

through for any infinitesimal detail that may have 
to do with your case. Or anything which has 
to do with either Long or the Forster woman, or 
both, — even if in your own mind it has nothing 
to do with the case. And tell me the result to- 
morrow. I don't want any more surprises. For 
the future, let's be prepared beforehand for any- 
thing the other side may spring on us. [Taking 
his hand.] Good-by ! 

Julian. [Shaking hands cheerfully.] Good-by ! 

[As ToMPSON goes out, he turns his hack discreetly. 

Margaret. Till to-morrow, Julian. 

Julian. [Kissing her.] Till to-morrow. 

Margaret. You're not discouraged? 

Julian. Not a bit, — and don't you lose heart, 
either. 

Margaret. Ah, never ! 

Julian. And forgive me ! 



112 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Hush ! Are you comfortable in 
your room ? 

Julian. [Half humorously.] Yes. [Then he 
adds quickly for her sake :] Yes, quite ! 

Margaret. There's nothing I can do to make 
you more comfortable? 

Julian. No, dear, no ! Till to-morrow. 

[Goes out with the Attendant. 

[Margaret stands a second, lost in thought. 
ToMPSON is waiting for her. 

ToMPSON. Shall we go? 

Margaret. Wait a minute. Mr. Tompson, 
at last I've thought of something I can do, if 
only you say so, too ! 

Tompson. What is it? 

Margaret. There is one person who knows 
the truth about it all. 

Tompson. Claire Forster? 



Margaret. Yes. She's 'Hhe woman in the 
case." There's always a woman! 

ToMPSON. Generally. 

Margaret. Always ! 

ToMPSON. Generally ! 

Margaret. Always ! ! 

ToMPSON. But in this instance there is a double 
difficulty, — the w^oman in the case isn't hidden, 
— she stands out before everybody, as chief wit- 
ness, chief accuser. 

Margaret. Ah, but you're wrong! It's the 
real woman hidden inside her bold, lying front 
that is the true woman in this case. The woman 
wdio knows and who would speak the truth if 
we could only get at her ! 

ToMPSON. I see your point, and it's good. 

Margaret. The thing is to get at the woman. 
[Walking up and down. 



114 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. Hum ! — Difficult ! 

Margaret. Oh, yes, — only a woman could ! 

ToMPSON. Could even another woman ? 

Margaret. I think so. And I'm going to 
try! 

ToMPSON. You! 

Margaret. [Standing still.] Yes ! Who better? 
Do you suppose she's ever seen me? 

ToMPSON. No, she'd never heard of you 
till just before your marriage. You were then 
in the country, where she could not possibly have 
been. And ever since you came back from your 
wedding journey, you've been practically shut up 
in Rolfe's sick-room. No ! It's every chance 
she hasn't seen you. 

Margaret. You know where she lives? 

ToMPSON. Oh, yes, — our detectives have been 
watching her for the last three weeks. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 115 

Margaret. They must tell me everything 
they know, and then you must call them off, 

ToMPSON. What is your plan ? 

Margaret. It's perfectly straightforward, and 
if it works at all, it will be very simple. I sup- 
pose she lives in a flat? 

ToMPSON. Yes, a very ordinary one — con- 
sidering everything. It seems she's a miser. 

Margaret. Good ! A weakness to work on. 
Every httle helps ! I am going to live in the 
same house, — as close to her apartment as I can 
get. 

ToMPSON. You ? You can't live there ! ! 

Margaret. Why not ? 

ToMPSON. It's impossible ! The place — the 
neighborhood ! Everything around you will 
revolt you. 

Margaret. Everything around will mean the 



ii6 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

same to me — Julian's release! Julian's vindica- 
tion ! I mean to meet this woman, somehow, 

— and her friends ; to copy their manners, to 
be one of them in spirit, in conversation, in 
eating, drinking, smoking, — what you like ! 

ToMPSON. [Amazed.] You!! 

Margaret. Yes ! Yes ! Will you men never 
understand what a woman can undergo for a man 
she loves ! You men endure physical torture for 
our sakes — that our bodies refuse to support, 

— but we make it up in what we can endure 
mentally and spiritually for you ! 

ToMPSON. [Takes her hand and presses it.] 
You are splendid ! 

[Half shamefacedly, he kisses her hand. 
Margaret. No, no ! Whatever I am, it is 
Julian's love and example have made me. 

[The Attendant enters. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 117 

Attendant. Mr. Tompson? 

[Both turn. 
Tompson. Yes? 

Attendant. There's a lady here got permis- 
sion to see Mr. Rolfe. I told her he had gone 
back, but that you were here, and she'd like to 
come in, all the same. 
Tompson. Ask her name. 

[The Attendant goes out. 
Margaret. [After a pause.] Can it be mother 
come back? 

Tompson. You can step behind the door, and 
I'll keep it open in case it's no one you want to 
see. 

Attendant. [Coming back.] Miss Claire 
Forster. 

[Tompson and Margaret look at each other in 
astonishment. 



ii8 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. Show her in. 
Margaret. No! Why? 
ToMPSON. You will see. 

[Margaret goes quickly behind the door. 
ToMPSON stands with his hand on the knob, 
holding it far back so that Margaret is com- 
pletely hidden behind it. The Attendant 
comes in with Claire. She is a young 
woman, pretty and slender, of a rather refined 
appearance — just the opposite of her real 
nature. The Attendant waits in the doorway. 
ToMPSON. Miss Claire Forster? 
Claire. [Abruptly.] Yes! Who are you? 
ToMPSON. I am the attorney for Mr. Rolfe. 
My name is Tompson, of Tompson & Slade. 

Claire. All right. I want to see Mr. Rolfe. 
I suppose I'll see quite enough of you at the trial. 

[Laughing. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 119 

ToMPSON. \With exaggerated politeness.] Let 
us hope you won't see too much of me ! 

Claire. Impossible ! I only wish you were 
my lawyer ! 

ToMPSON. [Dryly.] Thanks. 

Claire. However, the question now is, am 
I to see Mr. Rolfe, — isn't it ? 

ToMPSON. Well, of course Mr. Rolfe would 
not see you without my permission. 

Claire. Really? 

ToMPSON. Naturally not, as I am in charge 
of his case. 

Claire. Well, but I am sure a charming gentle- 
man like you won't refuse me a small request 
like that. 

ToMPSON. Turn about is fair play. Will you 
favor me? 

Claire. With pleasure ! How? 



I20 . THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. Tell me why you wish to see Mr. 
Rolfe. 

Claire. [Going toward him.] What cheek ! 

[A movement on the part of Tompson more 
surely to conceal Margaret. 

Tompson. Oh, I don't know ! [Going to her, 
and leading her out of the ivay, to a chair.] He 
will tell me, if you don't. 

Claire. I'm not sure ! Did he tell you I was 
coming to see him to-day? 

Tompson. [Quickly.] No. 

Claire. But he knew it ! 

Tompson. [Quietly.] Ah ! 

Claire. You don't believe me ! 

Tompson. No. 

Claire. You can't prove he didn't get a letter 
from me this morning. 

Tompson. Perhaps I couldn't prove it to a 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 121 

prejudiced person, but I think it would be very 
possible ! For myself, of course, I don't need 
any proof ! 

Claire. I've come for the sake of old days ! 

ToMPSON. [Irritated.] Oh, come ! 

Claire. [Emphatically.] Fve come for the sake 
0} old days, to tell him how sorry I am to have 
been the unwilling means of putting him into his 
present unpleasant position. 

ToMPSON. Humph! 

Claire. I want to tell him how sorry I am 
about those letters ! The very day they were 
found, I had made up my mind to destroy them ! 

ToMPSON. Humph ! ! 

Claire. That's all I wanted to see him for, 
— a visit of sympathy, — and to tell him things. 

ToMPSON. Humph ! ! ! 

Claire. As a friend ! 



122 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. [Almost beside himself. Rising.] 
No, by George ! Upon my soul, I never 
heard of such cruel impudence in all my life ! 

Claire. [With baby surprise.] How do you 
mean? 

ToMPSON. You haven't come here privately, 
have you? 

Claire. No, I tried to keep it quiet, but I 
couldn't possibly. All the newspapers know of 
my being here ! 

ToMPSON. And a nice impression that will 
make for our case, won't it? 

Claire. I hope it won't do any harm. It's 
against my will I'm being used so against Julian ! 

ToMPSON. Here, don't you call him Julian 
— not before me, anyway ! Do you know what 
I've a good mind to do? 

Claire. No. What? 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 123 

ToMPSON. Let you see Rolfe. It would serve 
you right. 

Claire. [Indignantly.] How serve me right ! 
ToJkiPSON. You know he'd make it a pretty 
hot visit for you ! But I'm not wilUng to put 
him in such a painful position as seeing you. 
Why, what do you take me for? You never 
expected to see Mr. Rolfe ! You've calculated 
very carefully how what you call a friendly 
visit from you would tell against him. You 
give away your whole pose, of the unwilling 
witness. Veneered on top of your desire to 
revenge yourself up to the hilt is your love of 
notoriety, — and here you are satisfying both at 
the same time ! But don't flatter yourself these 
newspapers who've escorted you here are your 
friends, — not at all ! They're after the '' Truth," 
and when they find you've deceived them into 



124 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

thinking it was hidden in your petticoats — 
Well ! You'll get all the notoriety then you 
want ! Only, God help you for the kind it will 
be! 

Claire. [Rising.] It's impossible for me to 
talk to you any longer ! You're no gentleman ! 
We don't speak the same language ! 

ToMPSON. No, mine's decent, even when I'm 
off guard, — and truthful, I hope. 

Claire. [Looks at him and sneers.] Pooh ! 
Rats! 

[She goes out, followed by the Attendant. 
ToMPSON follows her to the doorway, and looks 
after her. He closes the door, and Margaret 
comes forward. 

Margaret. [Nervously, holding some paper, 
a pencil and her cardcase, on which she has been 
writing.] Quick, let us go ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 125 

ToMPSON. Not yet. Give her time to get 
away first. 

Margaret. Of course ! Here. [She hands 
him the piece of paper.] I've taken notes of 
everything she said. They may come in useful ! 
The woman never sent Juhan a hne ! You be- 
Heve what you said, don't you? 

ToiiiPSON. I do ! 

Margaret. [Relieved.] Ah ! That's better ! 
You've a man to send at once to find out if 
there's an empty flat in her house? 

ToMPSON. Yes. 

Margaret. If there is, I'll take it to-morrow. 
I mean to worm myself into this woman's confi- 
dence, somehow. 

ToMPSON. She is clever ! 

Margaret. So will I be. She will have more 
than one weak spot. 



126 THE WOAIAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. She drinks ! 

Margaret. If she drinks enough, she'll never 
keep her secret ! I'll try that. I'll drink with 
her, — I'll powder and paint and dye my hair. 
I'll live her life with her, whatever it is. And 
then, what a reward if, at the end, with you 
hidden somewhere for a witness, I get the true 
story from her lips ! 

ToMPSON. [Going to the door.] The coast is 
clear ! 

Margaret. [As they go out.] Good! I can't 
wait to begin. [She turns, and looks back into 
the room toward where Julian went out.] Julian ! 
I've got my hands on the Woman in your case, 
and I mean to choke out of her the truth and 
your freedom before I let her go ! 

THE curtain falls 



ACT III 

Scene : Margaret's flat in West j2d Street. 
Two months later. Doors Right and Left. A 
lace-curtained bow window. Under a big brass 
chandelier, shaded by a large, flaring red silk 
shade, is a supper table set for four. The furni- 
ture is gilt. Imitation palms stand on the 
radiator and on a white fur rug by the window. 
There is an upright piano, with popular music 
on it. Professional photographs are all about. 
Parti-colored, sporting pennants are crossed be- 
hind the pictures on the figured wall. The time 
is io:4j P.M. 

[Enter Walters, showing in Tompson, with hat 
and coat. 

127 



128 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. [Who is smoking a cigarette.] So 
this is it, is it ? 

Walters. Yes, sir. 

ToMPSON. [Looking at the supper table.] And 
everything's ready? 

Walters. Yes, sir. 

ToMPSON. Do you know what theatre they've 
gone to? 

Walters. [Putting finishing touches to the 
table.] No, sir. 

ToMPSON. You're sure Miss Forster's servants 
are all out. 

Walters. Yes, sir. Her cook's left, and the 
maid's gone for the night. She don't sleep in 
the flat. 

ToMPSON. [Goes to the how window and looks out.] 
Weh, I'm sure I couldn't possibly have been seen 
coming in. How long has the cook downstairs 
been gone ? 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 129 

Walters. I should say as Miss Forster'd 
been having her meals with us for about a month 
now. Of course she jumped at the chance to 
cut expenses. 

ToMPSON. Yes, that was a very clever idea of 
Mrs. Rolfe's to work it in that way ! But it 
must be very hard for your mistress ! Not even 
to have her breakfast by herself ! 

Walters. Oh, as to that. Miss Forster ain't 
strong on breakfasts. All the same, it's been a 
pretty hard job for Mrs. Rolfe, sir. 

ToMPSON. And you've done your share splen- 
didly, Walters. You've proved worthy of every 
bit of confidence we've placed in you. 

Walters. Thank you, sir. I was a bell-boy 
in a country hotel when Mrs. Rolfe's family took 
hold of me, and I couldn't ever repay them for 
all they've done. Besides, I'm proud to have a 
hand in helping get Mr. Rolfe free ! 



I30 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

ToMPSON. [Holding out his hand.] Here, 
Walters ! 

Walters. No, thank you, sir ; not for that, sir. 

ToMPSON. What's the matter with you, Wal- 
ters ? There's no money in my hand. I want to 
shake yours, — that's all ! 

Walters. Oh ! Excuse me, sir ! Thank you, 
sir. 

[Gives his hand to Mr. Tompson, who gives it 
a good, hearty shake. 

Tompson. So this is the place where she's 
been playing her heart-rending little comedy ! 

Walters. Yes, sir. 

Tompson. [Looking around the room.] Mrs. 
Rolfe didn't do it up herself, did she? 

Walters. Oh, no, sir, — this ain't her taste ! 
This was done by Birdie Lancaster. We've 
rented it furnished. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 131 

ToMPSON. I tell you, there's nothing like these 

musical comedies to help an honest girl earn a 

living ! 

Walters. [Still arranging the table.] Birdie 

isn't here this Winter. 
TOMPSON. No ? 

Walters. No, sir. She's at Nice and Monte 
Carlo. 

ToMPSON. Oh ! Do you know which room 
we're to hide in? 

Walters. Yes, sir. This door. 

[Opening door at Right. 

ToMPSON. [Looking in.] Hum! All right. 
Tell the man outside to come in. 

Walters. Yes, sir. . 

[Opens the door. 

ToMPSON. [Going to the door and calling :] Wil- 
liams ! [Williams enters. 



132 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

WiLLi7\MS. Yes, sir. 

ToMPSON. This is our cozy corner. 

Williams. Very good, sir. Shall I go right 
in? 

ToMPSON. Yes, if you will, please. [Wil- 
liams goes out. ToMPSON turns to Walters.] 
Who makes the four at supper ? 

Walters. Miss Forster's young man and Mr. 
O'Neill. 

ToMPSON. Hard on Mr. O'Neill ! I suppose 
he's had to chum up a good deal with Miss For- 
ster's friend? 

Walters. Not very pleasant. Mr. Klauff- 
sky's not Mr. O'Neill's sort exactly, and Mr. 
O'Neill's nothing like the actor Mrs. Rolfe is. 

ToMPSON. You never forget and call her Mrs. 
Rolfe by mistake ? 

Walters. Oh, never. Always Mrs. Darcy ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 133 

ToAiPSON. They can't get in without ringing? 

Walters. Xo, sir. It's too bad you couldn't 
manage to put off the trial, sir ! It's that's 
driven Mrs. Rolfe nearly crazy. She keeps say- 
ing if she only had more time, more time ! 

ToiviPSON. We did our best. 

Walters. Still, on the other hand, she's 
nearly used up, sir! Several times lately she's 
locked herself up in her room with hysterics. 
We could hear her way in our part of the flat. 

ToMPSON. Poor woman ! Poor, plucky 
woman ! 

Walters. When she found out to-day was 
Miss Forster's birthday, she had the idea of this 
party and supper after. She got Mr. O'Neill 
to get an admission for Mr. Klauffsky, to some 
private playing club for to-night. Mr. Klauff- 
sky's a big gambler, and has been crazy to get 



134 THE WOMAN IN TEE CASE 

into one of these select, swell joints. After 
they're once at the table with a lot of champagne 
opened and everything's started, I'm to come in 
with a note to Mr. O'Neill. He wdll have tipped 
off KlaufTsky to get away, too, and they'll both 
make a break to go. That's the plan. 

[A bell rings. Tompson puts his cigarette 
end out on a plate, and leaves it there on the 
table. 

Tompson. Here they are. Go on. I know 
the room ! 

[Walters goes out Left and Tompson Right, 
after looking around to get his bearings. 

Margaret. [Heard outside.] Has Mr. Tomp- 
son come ? 

Walters. [Also outside.] Yes, ma'am. 

Margaret. [Still speaking outside.] Listen at 
the door, and warn us when you hear the elevator. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 13S 

They won't be here for some time yet. [She 
enters. She is utterly changed. Her hair is dressed 
in an exaggerated ultra-fashion. She looks hag- 
gard and pale — and is wearing a very elaborate 
theatre gown, and a quantity of jewels.] Where 
are you? [Goes to the door to Toimpson.] Come, 
they aren't with me. [She shakes his hand as 
he joins her.] I'm so glad you're here. 

ToMPSON. My dear, how hot your hand is ! 

Margaret. And I must be a fright. You've 
got some one with you ? For a witness ? 

ToMPSON. Yes, — WilHams. 

Margaret. [Sitting down beside Toi^ipson on 
the sofa.] I'm beginning to feel the strain tre- 
mendously. And to-night ! Oh, the suspense 
of this night ! Will it ever be over, — and yet I 
dread to have it over, for fear ! When I was 
alone in the carriage just now, I had to break 



136 THE IF0.1//LV IN THE CASE 

down. I couldn't help it ! I shall end up in 
being a regular hysterical woman. But at least 
I washed off the filthy paint and powder from 
my face with my tears ! 

[She leans her head on the arm of the sofa and cries. 

ToMPSON. I'm afraid you're making youi-self 
ill. 

[He lights a new cigarette. 

Margaret. No, no, it's only that I feel to- 
night is my last chance! The case comes on 
to-morrow ! I must appear in my true colors ; 
and yet, after these two awful months, I haven't 
accomplished what I started out to do — what 
I must accomplish ! What I will, to-night ! 
Oh, I feel I shall go raving, stark mad ! 

ToMPSON. But how is it you are back before 
the others? 

Margaret. The best luck in the world, my 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 137 

dear friend ! I wanted so much to see you alone 
— if only for a minute. I was taken really faint 
during the third act. Fortunately, even she 
herself saw it, and advised me to go home, — 
that the air would pull me up, — put ''me on my 
legs," I think she said! Oh, wait till you hear 
my vocabulary to-night ! Thank Heaven, you 
won't be able to see me ! I'm so ashamed of 
myself half the time. But the thought of 
Julian carries me through everything ! If I 
only had more time, more time ! 

ToMPSON. Of course, if the case goes against 
us, we can appeal. 

Margaret. But then this opportunity's gone 
for good. Oh ! [Rising.] I will make that 
woman talk to-night ! If I can only keep my 
ow^n head ! It's wonderful what I have been able 
to stand, — in the way of dissipation, I mean. 



138 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

I, who had no particular scruples about it, but 
just loathed the taste of alcohol in any way ! 
[She walks up and down, feverishly. 

ToMPSON. But can't you pretend to drink? 

Margaret. Perhaps now, but I wouldn't at 
first. I was so afraid she'd get suspicious. And, 
ugh, the sickening, beastly hours I've passed with 
her ! ! But I'm sure I have her confidence now. 

ToMPSON. Good ! 

Margaret. She nearly lives here, you know. 
And if I only had had the time, I'd have managed 
that ! Though she's the most loathsome thing 
a decent woman ever came in contact w^ith, yet 
I share my table .with her ! — and I'd be willing 
to share one room, one bed even ! — to get the 
truth from her ! 

ToMPSON. She's told you plenty of confidences. 
It's odd how she always fights shy of this one. 



TEE WOMAN IN THE CASE 139 

Margaret. I should say she must have told 
me everything else in her life ! And what a life ! 
Oh, Julian, Julian, I'm glad you'll never know 
what I've been through ! And if only it will 
prove worth while ! I've got her several times 
right up to the subject, like a horse to a fence, 
— but she balks every time ! I feel that she will 
tell me ! I feel that she knows she's going to 
tell me ; that she's afraid she's going to tell me, 
and doesn't want to ! Once or twice, if I'd just 
pushed the subject a little farther, pressed just 
one question more, perhaps, she might have 
told it. And yet I didn't dare, because the 
very fact of my pressing her might have roused 
her suspicions. I've schooled myself not to 
show the slightest atom of curiosity about the 
affair. 

ToMPSON. Hard ! Very hard ! 



I40 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. But she starts the subject herself, 
apropos of some new evidence or theory in a 
paper, perhaps. I look bored. I am only afraid 
she will hear my heart beat — it sounds like a 
cannonading to me ! Fifty questions rush to 
my lips, but I bite them back ! I make a weak 
effort to change the conversation, — weak enough 
not to really change it, but not strong enough 
to arouse a grain of suspicion in her sharp, ugly 
little nature ! But so far, nothing done, nothing 
accomplished ! 

ToiviPSON. Don't be discouraged. You have 
to-night, and it is your best chance yet ! 

Margaret. Has Walters told you the scheme ? 

ToMPSON. Yes. How did you happen to 
take in Jimmy O'Neill? 

Margaret. Well, I had to have some man to 
pretend to be flirting with, and to have in hand 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 141 

always. I'd known Jimmy a long time, — knew 
how faithful and trustworthy he was ! Look 
w^hat a devoted creature he's always been to 
Elsie Brewster, — -w^ho treats him really dis- 
gracefully ! He was especially devoted to Ju- 
lian, — looked on him as a sort of older brother, 
— so he seemed to me the best to choose. 

ToMPSON. Walters seems to have done his 
part well. 

Margaret. Oh, he's been splendid! Such 
a help, and never once forgot, though even I 
do! 

ToiviPSON. Forgot what? 

Margaret. Oh, my mask ! The other day, 
it was funny, I forgot all my acquired vulgarity 
for a moment, and was speaking quite naturally, 
just being myself. She began to laugh. 

ToMPSON. Why ? 



142 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. That's it ! What do you think 
she said? [Laughing.] ''Stop putting on such 
airs with me, old girl ! You are the most affected 
old thing sometimes, as if you were trying to make 
me believe you were a real lady!" 

[Enter Walters quickly and softly. 

Walters. [Under his breath.] The elevator's 
coming up ! 

[ToMPSON rises. All half whisper. 

Margaret. How can it be they're so soon ! 
[To Walters.] Have you the note for Mr. 
O'Neill? 

Walters. Yes, ma'am. 

Margaret. [To Tompson.] Your cigarette 
smoke. She might smell it and be suspicious. 

Tompson. What a damn shame. 

[Throws his cigarette into the grate. 

Margaret. Never mind! Give me one! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 143 

No ! She might notice by some chance it wasn't 
one of our own. 

[Walters hands her the box from the table. 

She takes one. 
ToMPSON. But can you? 

[Handing her a lighted match. 
Margaret. Oh, my dear man ! I don't care 
about it, but if only it was all as easy as this ! 

[Lights her cigarette. Bell rings. 
Walters. [To Tompson.] Lock the door, sir, 
to be sure. 

[Tompson goes out Right, and locks the door 
after him. Walters goes out Left. Mar- 
garet, with a hasty look about her, rearranges 
Tompson's chair, and goes out Right. 
Claire. [Heard outside.] Well, Walters. 
Look out ! Don't w^alk all over my dress with 
your great feet ! How is Mrs. Darcy ? 



144 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Walters. She seems all right. 
Claire. I said all she needed was air, and to 
get away from that rotten show. 

Klauffsky. [Who speaks with a slight Gennan 
accent. Of stage.] Right you are ! And there 
wasn't a single pretty girl on the stage. The 
theatre's no good since the highbrow took to 
the business. 
[Enter Claire, calling '^ Belle," followed hy 
Klauffsky and O'Neill. Claire is very 
over-dressed for the theatre^ and wears a huge 
picture hat. 
Claire. Belle ! 

Margaret. [Calling out from her room.] Yep ! 
[Her voice, her manner, everything about her, 

is diferent — common and loud. 
Claire. [Closing the shutters.] Stop doing 
yourself up. We're starved. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 145 

Margaret. Oh, shut up! I'm getting into 
something comfy. Begin without me ! 

Claire. [To O'Neill.] Go on, you know her 
room. Bring her out ! I'm going to take off 
my theatre hat, and be comfy, too. 

[She stands before the mantel and removes her hat. 
O'Neill goes to Margaret's door and knocks. 

Claire. Hear him knock ! 

Margaret. Who is it? 

O'Neill. Jimmy. 

Margaret. Well, Jimmy, you go away from 
there ! If you want to know what's good for 
you, you just make tracks. 

Claire. [Sitting down at the table. In a loud 
voice.] I dare him to go in ! 

O'Neill. What? I won't take a dare! 

[Turns the knob, but with really no intention of 
going in. 



146 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. [To Klauffsky.] Sit down, Louis. 

[He sits beside her. 

Margaret. You come one step into this room, 
Jimmy, and I swear I'll kick you out ! 

O'Neill. Hah — and she would, too! No, 
thanks ! 

Margaret. I'll come out when I'm darned 
good and ready. 

O'Neill. Right you are, Mrs. Darcy ! 

Klauffsky. [Pretending to rise from his chair. 
To Claire.] Do you dare me to go? 

Claire. No, I don't ! [Pulling him down into 
his place.] You're entirely too free with Belle, 
as it is. It's only that I trust her, or I'd make a 
damn row ! 

Klauffsky. I'd Hke to see you ! You must 
be hot stuff ! 

Claire. Yes, you wouldn't want to see me 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 147 

twice ! I say — what's she doing anyway ! 
Coming home pretending to be sick ! I don't 
beheve she was sick at all ! Don't beUeve she 
came home alone ! Jimmy ! She's going back 
on you. [She finds Tompson's cigarette end on the 
plate.] Yep ! I knew it ; here's a cigarette end, 
and not one of ours ! [She holds up the cigarette. 

O'Neill. Nonsense ! 

Claire. Nonsense yourself! Where is he? 
He can't have gone. She expected us to stay 
through the rest of the opera, but we weren't 
ten minutes after her. Aha ! [She is amused, 
thoroughly enjoying it.] That's why she wouldn't 
come out. She's hiding a man in there. This 
is a scream ! [Calls.] Belle ! We've caught 
you ! It's no use ! Come on, bring him out ! 

Margaret. [From her room.] I don't know 
what you're talking about. 



148 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. Well, I'll show you. [To O'Neill.] 
Come along ! There's only two rooms he can 
hide in, unless he's gone into the kitchen. I'll 
go into her room, if you won't, and you look into 
the next one. Belle, you're caught! 

[She goes to Margaret's room. Inside, the 
two women are heard, Claire laughing and 
saying, ''Where is he? Come along out 
with him ! Jimmy's looking in the next 
room," etc., Margaret denying it. The two 
women are heard laughing and talking, but 
not distinctly, through the following speeches 
between the two men. O'Neill had gone to 
door. Right; he tries it; it is locked. Klauff- 
SKY is watching. 
Klauffsky. [Rising.] By George, it's locked ! 
She has got some one ! 

O'Neill. The locked door don't prove it! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 149 

Klauffsky. What'U you bet. 

O'Neill. [Gomg quickly to Mm.] Say, Klauff- 
sky ! 

Klauffsky. Look here, don't you mind. 
They're all like that ! Let's teach 'em both a 
lesson ! [He makes a movement toward the door. 

O'Neill. No ! Listen, I say, — don't let on 
we know. See? 

Klauffsky. What the hell — 

O'Neill. [Interrupting.] No, I don't like a 
row ! This is my business, and I want to see it 
through my own way — with your permission ! 

Klauffsky. All right, all right ! 

O'Neill. You want to play to-night, don't 
you? 

Klauffsky. Bet your life ! 

O'Neill. Well, we'll carry out our original 
plan, and to-morrow I'll call around and have 



ISO THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

it out with Mrs. — er — Darcy, quietly, by our- 
selves. I don't want to be made a fool of before 
Miss Forster. 

Klauffsky. I'm wise ! Guess you're right ! 

Claire. [Coming hack.] No luck for me! 
How about you? 

O'Neill. Nothing! 

Claire. Well ! I'm not satisfied, all the 
same. [Enter Walters, ivith a cold chicken and 
a salad.] Thank the Lord, here comes food! Oh, 
I say, Walters,' — what gentleman's been here 
this evening? 

Walters. [Stares at her blankly. Then, after 
a moment, he says:] Nobody that I've seen, — 
and I've been in all the evening. 

Claire. Well then, what's the meaning of 
this cigarette end on the plate? Are cigarette 
stumps on the bill of fare? [Laughing. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 151 

Walters. [Looking.] Oh, [after a pause] I'm 

very sorry ! I don't know how I ever came to 

do it, but there's no use denying it, because they're 

my cigarettes ! 

Claire. Well, you are a dirty, cheeky devil, 
smoking here in the parlor ! And you wouldn't 
do it twice, if you were my servant, I can tell you 
that! 

[Walters goes out as Margaret enters, hav- 
ing changed to a "tea gown." She is very 
much painted, rouged, etc. 
Margaret. Now, I feel much better! 
[She joints Claire and Klauffsky at the table. 
Claire. The trouble with you is you wear 
your corsets too tight ! 

[She laughs and looks at the men, as if she'd 

said something clever. 
Margaret. [Laughs.] Oh, come off, old girl, 



152 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

— and anyway I have to do something to have 

any show up against a beautiful figure Hke 

you! 

[Walters enters with a magnum of champagne 
in a cooler, which he puts near the table, and 
goes out. 

Claire. [To Klauffsky.] What do you 
think of that for a lady friend ! She and Jimmy 
here are the first two non-jealous people I've 
ever struck. 

Margaret. Why lug in Jimmy? 

Claire. Why, I believe you've got a man 
around here, somewhere, and he don't care a 
hang. 

Margaret. Because he knows it isn't true. 

Claire. Perhaps not. 

Klauffsky. [To Claire.] What's the odds 
anyway, old girl. It's not your funeral ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 153 

Claire. Hello ! The party on my right has 
waked up ! 

[Walters brings in another bottle of cham- 
pagne, and puts it in the ice. 

Margaret. That's all, Walters. You needn't 
wait. [Walters goes out.] Come now, let's have 
a toast ! Break open that magnum, Jimmy, and 
drink the health and many happy returns — 

Claire. [Interrupting.] Hold on, not too 
many returns ! In about two more years I'm 
not going to have any more of these birthday 
returns coming in ! Celebrate — but no ques- 
tions asked ! 

[Jimmy opens and pours out the champagne. 

Margaret. Go on, Klauff — ^' spiel! 

Klauffsky. To the beautiful and sweet 
tempered little girl beside me — who eats up a 
lot of money, but who's cheap at the price ! 



154 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Hear, hear ! " 

O'Neill. Hear, hear ! [Together. 

Claire. Oh! 

Klauffsky, [To Claire.] The best Httle — 

[He stops. 

All. What? 

Claire. Angel ! 

KxAUEFSKY. Ahem ! Here goes, anyway. 
And the man who empties his glass first, gets a 
kiss. Hoch ! [They all dink glasses and drink, 
Margaret echoing the "Hoch." Klauffsky is 
through first.] Give us a kiss ! 

Claire. Go on ! What do you take me for, 
before Mr. O'Neill. 

[Kisses her hand, and slaps his face with it. 
All laugh. 

Claire. Go on, Belle. Give Jimmy one like 
that! 



THE WOMAN IX THE CASE 155 

Margaret. Shall I ? 

[Kisses her hand to slap him. 

O'Neill. No! [£fz/er Walters. 

Claire. Hello ! More food ! You're doing 
the grand thing, Belle ! 

Walters. A note for Mr. O'Neill. 

[Giving it. 

O'Neill. I say, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I 
know what this is ! Yes, I tried to put off a 
business engagement ; but, you see you didn't 
give me enough warning about the party, and 
I'll have to go ! 

Klauffsky. It isn't that little New Orleans 
affair that I'm in, is it? 

O'Neill. Yes, that's just what it is. 

[Rising. 

Klauffsky. Well, that is damn bad luck. 
[Rising.] It takes me, too ! 



I5C THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. Oh, come, that's too thin ! Business 
at this time of day ! 

Margaret. True, for a fact, Claire. Don't 
let's let 'em go ! 

O'Neill. [To Walters.] They didn't wait 
for an answer? 

Walters. No, they said you were expected 
around. There was no answer. 

O'Neill. All right. 

[Walters goes out. 

Claire. [To Margaret.] Funny, I didn't 
hear the bell ring. Did you? 

Margaret. Yes. Just when we were drinking. 

Klauffsky. Awfully sorry, old girl. 

Claire. You're not really going? 

Klauffsky. Have to. Business is business ! 

Claire. Oh, business be — . I don't beUeve 
you a minute ! You've got something else on. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 157 

That's why you're breaking up our party. If 
you go, Louis, I'll never speak to you again ! 
So long as I live ! 

Klauffsky. Please yourself. Have you got 
a pen anywhere? 

[Taking a check-book from his pocket, 
Claire. What you got there? 
Klauffsky. Check-book. Don't you rec- 
ognize it? 

[He takes out a fountain pen and writes. Claire 

winks at Margaret. 
O'Neill. [To Margaret.] Good-by, Belle. 
Honest, I have to go ! 

Claire. Oh, come off, Mr. O'Xeill ! 
Margaret. Yes ! All right for you, Jimmy ! 
Come along, one more drink, anyway ! 
O'Neill, See you there ! 

[He fills the glasses with champagne. 



158 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Stopping him. Aside.] Open the 
other bottle ! 

[He does so, and fills the glasses again. 
Klauffsky. [To Claire, handing her the 
check.] Suppose you don't object to a little 
birthday present ! 

Claire. [Looking at it.] I say, Louis, you are 
a brick 1 This will pull me out of a hole. 

Klauffsky. [Lifting his glass.] Well, here's 
luck ! 

Claire. All the same, I don't take any stock 
in this midnight business or trip. 

[All drink, except Margaret, who manages to 
empty her glass into the flowers in the centre 
of the table. All say good-by. Margaret 
and O'Neill exchange looks, as Klauffsky 
goes to Claire. 
Claire. You're a nasty old pig to shake us, 
all the same! 



THE WOMAX IX THE CASE 159 

Klauffsky. How about to-morrow? 

Claire. I'll be busy all day to-morrow\ 
Julian Rolfe's trial begins. 

Klauffsky. I meant dinner? 

Claire. Oh, all right ! 

Klauffsky. [To O'Neill, who stands in the 
doorcvay.] Will you bring IMrs. Darcy, O'Neill? 

Margaret. [Quickly.] No ! I'm going to 
rest up to-morrow night, and try to get well. 

Claire. Don't you believe her. She's got a 
date with her friend of this evening ! 

O'Neill. Oh, I guess I can take Belle's 
word ! 

[Goes out. 

Claire. My goodness I There's a good ex- 
ample for you, Louis ! 

Klauffsky. Not on your life ! Call for you 
at seven. Ta, ta, baby ! 

[Goes out. 



i6o THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. Louis, you're not going to leave me 
like that ! 

[Follows him out. 

Margaret. [To Jimmy.] You won't let him 
come back ? 

O'Neill. Trust me ! Good luck ! 

Margaret. [Almost breaking down.] Jimmy, 
it's my last chance. If I fail — ! 

O'Neill. You won't. Keep up your courage ! 

Claire. [Reentering.] I hate Louis' tobacco ! 

O'Neill. Good-by. 

Claire. Good-by. [O'Neill goes out.] 
Humph ! They've gone out to have a good 
time on their own, I'll bet you. 

Margaret. Oh, wtH, what's the dif., old girl. 
We've got each other and a good supper ! Come 
along, let's enjoy ourselves. 

Claire. [Sits again at the table.] No, just 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE i6i 

give me some more wine. They've taken my 
appetite along with 'em. 

[Holds her glass. Margaret flls it with 



Margaret. I don't wonder Klauff's stuck 
on you, Claire. You look awfully well to-night. 

Claire. Is that why you hung back in the 
box all the time? 

Margaret. Yes — I looked like your mother. 

Claire. [Laughs.] You did look pretty seedy. 
I guess you can't stand my pace, Belle. I notice 
every little while you seem to shy at something ! 

Margaret. Well, you know I think you're a 
wonder ! You knock any other girl I ever 
knew out o' sight. 

[Lights a cigarette and takes two or three pufs. 

Claire. What selfish beasts men are ! My 
goodness ! — and they're all alike ! I never 



i62 THE WOMAX IX THE CASE 

knew really but one man who loved me more than 

himself I But there was one I 

^Iargaret. [After a ?niuutc.] Philip Long? 

Claire. Yep ! Philip Long I At one time 
he'd have given up everything for me. Huh I [.1 
short pause. AL\rgaret waits.] Do you blame me 
for hating the man who turned him against me? 

^L\RGARET. Xo, I don't. [She ehanges to 
Klauffsky's seat very gia'ckly, sliding into it 
without really rising. She waits for Claire to 
go on. Claire sits looking into spaee and ahead 
of her. After a minute:] Xo, I don't blame you 
at all. [She Jills Claire's glass. She waits. 
Claire doesn't speak.] Fd hate him in your 
place I [--1 sJiorter pause. Claire doesn't speak.] 
Go on, drink your champagne, dear, and let's 
have a good talk ! 

[Pushing Claire's glass towards her. 



THE WOMAN IX THE CASE 163 

Claire. I like you ! You're so sympathetic, 
and you aren't always wanting to talk about 
yourself! [She drinks.] Oh, the lies about 
men some girls can sit down and make up by the 
hour I — and think you're ninny enough to be- 
lieve them I [She notices Margaret didn't drink.] 
Say, you aren't drinking ; go on, fill up I It'll 
do your head good ! 

[She fills ^Iargaret's and her glasses. She 
drinks some, and Margaret pretends to. 

Margaret. Xo, indeed, — in your place I 
wouldn't ever forgive — this other man — what's 
his name? 

Claire. Rolfe — Julian Rolfe. You bet I 
don't I Don't you worry about my forgiving 
him, either ! 

[Margaret grows more tense, puts out her 
cigarette, and leans a little nearer to Cl.aire. 



1 64 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. Say, Belle, I've told you pretty nearly 
everything about myself. Suppose you take a 
turn now ! 

Margaret. Oh, my life's so dull after yours ! 
I'd rather hear you. 

Claire. Well, I've only got one story in my 
brain, to-night, and that I'd better not talk about ! 
Are you always attracted by such young fellows 
as Jimmy O'Neill ? 

Margaret. Why, yes, — I mean, I don't 
know, — I suppose so. 

Claire. Where did you come across him, 
anyway ? 

Margaret. He's engaged to a lady friend of 
mine. 

Claire. [Laughs.] That's pretty good ! I 
guess she won't consider you such a friend, 
when she hears you've taken him away from 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 165 

her. Don't you dare treat me that way with 
Klauffsky. 

Margaret. No feari 

Claire. Have you ever been really in love? 

Margaret. You mean really, so I didn't 
care if he had a cent or anything! 

Claire. Yep ! 

Margaret. Yes, once. 

Claire. Really? Crazy about him? You've 
always seemed to me the cold sort ! Go on, tell 
me about it. 

Margaret. I lived with him till about three 
weeks before I met you. 

Claire. Oh, I see; and that's what's the 
matter with you, now. You haven't got over it 
yet ! Did you have a row? What's the matter? 

Margaret. Well, we're separated. But I 
hope we'll come together again. 



1 66 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. Don't you do it ! Don't you be too 
soft-hearted ! If he's left you once, he'd more'n 
likely do it again. Was it another woman? 

Margaret. [Very slowly.] Yes — it was — 
another woman — who separated us. 

Claire. Thought so ! 

Margaret. Well, you hit it all right! 

Claire. I'll bet you hate her! 

Margaret. I do. 

Claire. Yes, you look it! I wouldn't want 
to have you look at me that way. 

Margaret. I hate her like you hate this man 
who kept Long from marrying you ! 

Claire. I wonder ! The man you love isn't 
dead. 

Margaret. Yes, but still — Claire, you've 
never told me. Do you believe Long was 
murdered? • 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 167 

Claire. [Looking at her, after a moment.] 
Yes, I believe he was murdered! 

[A flash of disappointment passes over Mar- 
garet's face; to hide it, she rises, and puts her 
arm around Claire's shoulder and her head 
against Claire's head. 
Margaret. Well, it was awfully hard for 
you, either way, and I'm sorrier'n I can say for 
you, old girl. 

Claire. You haven't finished your wine. 
Drink it up, and wt'11 have another! [Mar- 
garet is obliged to drink it.] Good Heavens, the 
amount of this stuff Philip would get the best 
of ! Never knew anything like it ! 

[She fills their glasses. 
Margaret. Really? 

Claire. Here's to his memory, and good 
luck to our side, to-morrow ! [She drinks; 



1 68 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret tries to drink, but the glass falls, spills 
and breaks.] What's the matter? 

Margaret. I struck my hand on your chair. 
The d — d glass dropped. I'm nervous, to-night. 
I'm not well. Fill me Klauffsky's glass. 

[Pushing it towards Claire, who fills it. Mar- 
garet drinks some. 

Claire. Klauffsky isn't going to have his 
legs pulled in his sleep. 

[Margaret has come around, and sits at 
Claire's feet. 

Margaret. Claire ! Do you know what I 
wish you'd do, old girl? Give up your flat, and 
come here and stay. 

Claire. Oh, I don't think I ought to do that ! 

Margaret. Yes, do ! I want you to, — no 
bluff ; come on ! You might as well save that 
money. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 169 

Claire. My goodness, it's awfully good of 
you, Belle, I must say ! 

Margaret. Oh, that's all right. I get so lonely 
sometimes. I won't charge you a cent of rent. 

Claire. Well, if you really mean it, I suppose 
I could. My month's up next week. 

Margaret. Good ! [Rising.] Then we'll con- 
sider it settled. 

Claire. How big is that other bedroom. 
Let's see. 

[She makes a movement toward the door. 

Margaret. [Stops her.] No, darling, — I 
don't want you to see it now ; not till I get it 
all ready for you. I'll surprise you with it, 
you'll see ! 

Claire. All right ! 

[Margaret sinks into O'Neill's chair at the 
table. 



170 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Good gracious, I wish we were in 
our wrappers, don't you? You'll see it will be 
ever so much nicer when you come here and live ! 

Claire. Do you know, you're the nicest girl 
I ever met ! Phil would have liked you ! 

Margaret. [Trying to look indi^erent.] 
Would he? 

Claire. Yep. 

Margaret. Why ? 

Claire. Oh, you couldn't be too lady-like 
for Phil. Why, he even thought / was vulgar 
sometimes !. 

Margaret. [Moves about; she is too nervous 
to keep quiet.] Still, that didn't keep him from 
wanting to marry you, did it? 

Claire. My dear, he was so ready to marry 
me that it's my own fault I didn't do it before 
that brute got a chance to break it up ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 171 

Margaret. [Seating herself again.] Really? 

Claire. And that makes me hate him all the 
more. 

Margaret. How do you mean? 

Claire. Why, that I've only got myself to 
thank ! 

Margaret. But, my dear girl, what I don't 
understand is how, when he was so in love with 
you, and you're so pretty and attractive and 
dear, — I don't see how he ever was persuaded 
to give you up. 

Claire. I guess you didn't follow the case 
very close when it first come out ! 

Margaret. No. [She rises again. 

Claire. I say, am I keeping you up ? Do you 
want to go to bed? 

Margaret. Not on your life ! I don't want 
to go to bed for hours ! I couldn't sleep a wink ! 



172 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. It's funny you weren't interested in 
my case. Why, nobody tai.ked about anything 
else for a week ! 

Margaret. You see, I had my own ir^-f^ubles 
then, and I didn't care much about anyboa^" 
else's. Tell me something about it. 

[Coming to ClAire, and leaning on the hack of 
her chair. 

Claire. Why, I've told you lots! 

Margaret. [Very innocently.] No, dear, you 
haven't. Why didn't he marry you, if he was 
ready to? 

Claire. Well, you see, Rolfe told a lot of 
lies about me, and prejudiced him in that 
way! 

Margaret. But I can't help thinking Long 
was a weak fellow to be persuaded by another 
man against you, dear. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 173 

Claire. Here, don't you run down Phil! I 
won't stand it ! He proved at the end he loved 
me, if any fellow ever did! 

Margaret. [After a pause.] How? 

[Slyly shoving the bottle of champagne toward her. 

Claire. Oh, that's another story. 

Margaret. Go on, tell me. You know, 
everything about you's so interesting ! 

Claire. Think so? 

Margaret. Yes. Why, I think you're per- 
fectly wonderful ! You know, you could write 
a great novel ! You've got real genius the way 
you tell your stories. I'd rather listen to you 
than read, or go to a play, — really ! Go on, and 
tell me some more ! 

[Margaret shoves the bottle a little closer to- 
ward Claire, who at last sees it. She takes 
up the bottle. 



174 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. Have some more — or had enough? 

Margaret. Oh, mercy, not yet ! 

[Handing her a glass. Both drink. 

Claire. I like you. Belle ! 

[She is beginning to show the efects of the cham- 
pagne. 

Margaret. Go on, like a dear old duck ! 

Claire. Where's Walters? 

Margaret. Gone to bed, of course, like a good 
servant. 

Claire. Sneaked out, more likely. 

[Looks around at the door to see if it is closed. 
A momenfs pause. 

Margaret. Why didn't you marry Long 
when you had the chance? 

Claire. Because I didn't want to do any- 
thing on the side ! I wanted to wait and do the 
thing up in style, with a Church w^edding and his 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 175 

folks on hand. You know, I've always had an 
idea I'd kind o' like to get into Society. 

Margaret. Yes ? 

Claire. The first time Rolfe got his hand in, 
I brought Philip round again. It was the very 
morning of the same night when it all happened. 

Margaret. Yes. 

Claire. Then he had a foolish idea of con- 
fronting Rolfe with me, to make me disprove all 
he'd said against mei So he brought us to- 
gether at Phil's flat. Of course, if I'd had any 
idea of it, I wouldn't have had it for a minute. 

[Another pause. 

Margaret. Yes ? 

Claire. Look here, I can trust you. Belle ! 
I'm' talking very free with you. Honest, you'll 
never tell what I am telling you? I can trust 
you, Belle? 



176 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. Why, Claire ! How can you ask 
me that ! Don't you know me yet? 

[She pours out more champagne, and hath 
drink. 

Claire. Yes, I like you. 

Margaret. Go on, dear, — it's just Hke an 
exciting novel. 

Claire. Well, you see, Rolfe accused me of 
everything under the sun to Phil, — right be- 
fore me. It doesn't make any difference whether 
it was true or not, it was a low-down trick ! 

Margaret. [Emphatically.] Yes, a dirty, 
low-down trick ! 

Claire. Yes. And finally I got mad, and 
1st out and told him so. But he'd got Philip 
dead against me by that time. 

Margaret. Um ! 

[Making an almost invisible movement nearer. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 177 

Claire. Yes, and would you believe it, Belle, 
he got him to swear there and then he'd never 
marry me, so help him God ! 

Margaret. No ! 

Claire. Yes ! ! [Then, almost crying, very 
much under the influence of the wine, now :] What 
do you think of that? 

Margaret. I think it was rotten of him ! 

Claire. [Suddenly, angrily.] But I'll make 
him pay for it ! /'// make him pay for it ! 

Margaret. [Excitedly, as if in perfect sym- 
pathy] Yes ! Make him pay good ! Make 
him pay good ! 

Claire. \\Vith a slight reaction in her manner, 
looking at Margaret.] Trust Claire Forster for 
that! 

Margaret. But couldn't you have made Phil 
break his promise ? 



178 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Claire. I don't believe so. He never broke 
a promise. When once he gave his word of 
honor about anything, you couldn't budge him ! 
He was queer that way ! 

Margaret. [Leaning over nearer.] What did 
you do then? 

Claire. When? 

Margaret. When he gave his word there in 
his room ! 

Claire. Oh, I threw my arms around Philip, 
and begged him to take it back. 

Margaret. What did he say? 

Claire. He just turned around and asked 
Rolfe to leave us alone a minute. 

Margaret. And did he? 

Claire. [After a short pause.] Yes. 

[Another pause. 

Margaret. And then what ? 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE lyg 

Claire. I asked Phil if he meant what he'd 
said, and he answered ''Yes!" Oh, but I was 
mad ! Think what that meant to me ! I told 
him I wished I'd never seen him ; that he didn't 
love me and he never had loved me ! I wish I 
hadn't said it, now. I don't know as it would 
have made any difference, all the same. 

Margaret. [Breathlessly] Why? 

Claire. Because he stood up and faced me. 
I walked to the other side of the room, and was 
so mad at him ! But he looked at me across the 
table and said — I can hear him now ! — I 
hear him every night ! — every time I shut my 
eyes I hear and see him — 

Margaret. [With every muscle tense and 
strained.] How ? 

Claire. [Forgetting Ma^gkket] ''I love you 
so much," he said, ''that, if I can't marry you, I 



i8o THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

won't live without you." Oh, I can see him 

now ! [Putting her hands over her eyes. 

Margaret. [Leaning over and whispering, close 
to her:] Yes? 

Claire. I saw his hand go behind his back, but 
I didn't dream! "My hfe's rotten anyway," he 
said, "and Fm going to end it!^^ 

Margaret. [A cry almost escaping from her.] 
No ! [She half rises in her seat. 

Claire. [Not hearing her or realizing; more 
to herself than to Margaret ; in a sodden, half- 
dead voice:] And before I could get at him 
across the room, he'd shot himself ! 

Margaret. [Containing herself with a supreme 
efort, whispers tremblingly:] Philip Long shot 
himself? 

Claire. Yes, shot himself right there before — 

Margaret. [Losing all control, and letting 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE i8r 

herself go altogether, springs upon Claire, 
clutching her with hath hands by her shoulders, and 
screams:] You Fiend! 

Claire. [Frightened, but not able to take it all 
in at once.] What? 

Margaret. I am his wife ! Do you under- 
stand ? His wife ! Julian Rolf e's wdf e ! Julian 
— Rolfe's — wife ! 

Claire. [Dazed.] What do you mean? 

Margaret. [Still gripping Claire with all her 
force.] And he's free ! Do you hear me, free ! ! 
Thanks to you ! You ! I've lived day and night 
wath you ; I've lied to you, and cheated you ! 
I've sat and wallowed in the gutter with you ! 
But it was all for Julian! Do you hear me? 
Mr. Tompson ! Mr. Tompson ! 

ToaiPSON. [Unlocking the door, comes out, fol- 
lowed by the Inspector.] Bravo, Mrs. Rolfe ! 



1 82 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Hysterically.] Did you hear? 
Did you hear ? Oh ! 

ToMPSON. Everything ! 

Margaret. [More hysterically.] Every word ? 

ToMPSON. Every word ! 

Margaret. Juhan ! Jul — 

[Her voice breaks, and she drops in a dead faint. 

[ToMPSON rushes to her. Claire sits, staring 
ahead of her, struck dumb with despair and fear. 

the curtain falls 



ACT IV 

Scene: AttheRoLYEs\ Margaret's room. It 
is simply furnished, but with great taste. The 
walls are in pink and white stripes. There are 
pink and white chintz curtains, and a white bed. 
The time is morning. 
[Mrs. Hughes is discovered in an arm-chair, 
her head resting on her hand. There is a tap 
at the door. She goes softly and opens it. It is 
Julian. Mrs. Hughes puts her finger to her lips. 
They both speak in whispers. 
Mrs. Hughes. Shh! — not yet! She's just 
fallen asleep ! 

Julian. May I look ? 

183 



1 84 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes. But no noise ! 

[Julian tiptoes a few steps in, and stands look- 
ing at Margaret. 

Mrs. Hughes. [Going to kim, puts her hand 
on his shoulder.] Come ! — or she might feel 
you in the room, and wake ! I'll send for you 
the moment she does, but let her have the sleep 
now. She needs all she can get, to give her 
strength to see you. 

Julian. When she was awake early this morn- 
ing, her mind was still clear? 

Mrs. Hughes. Perfectly ! — as yours ; clearer 
than my foolish old mind ever is ! 

Julian. She asked for me ? 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes! 

Julian. What did you tell her? 

Mrs. Hughes. That she should see you to- 
day. 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 185 

Julian. Why didn't you send for me then? 

Mrs. Hughes. The doctor said not to, — 
not till she'd taken some nourishment. Remem- 
ber how weak she is. It's only a day since the 
fever broke. And think what a strain on her 
poor, exhausted self, — the joy of seeing you 
again ! 

Julian. She knows I am free since yesterday ? 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes. 

Julian. Did she ask about the trial? 

Mrs. Hughes. I wouldn't let her talk about 
that. I said you were free and she would see 
you to-day. 

Julian. I want her to know it was she who 
did it ! She herself ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Believe me, Julian, she only 
cares that you are free, and here with your love 
to help her to get well. 



1 86 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Julian. Well, I'll go to my room now. But 
send for me the moment she wakes, won't you ? 
— the moment you can ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes, yes, my dear boy — yes ! 
[Julian exits Left. Mrs. Hughes goes softly 
toward the bed to see if Margaret has been 
disturbed. She is sleeping quietly. As Mrs. 
Hughes goes back to her chair, a soft tap is 
heard on the door. She goes to it and opens 
it. Walters hands her a box, which con- 
tains a bunch of violets. 
Walters. From Mr. Tompson, — and Miss 
Brewster is here. May she come in? 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes. [Walters disappears, 
and Elsie immediately enters. Mrs. Hughes 
kisses Elsie, and closes the door behind her. She 
whispers:] She's asleep. 

Elsie. Has she had a good night ? 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 187 

Mrs. Hughes. Splendid ! Both nurse and I 
had a good nap ourselves. 

Elsie. And Julian! He came home last 
night ? 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes, but the doctor wouldn't 
let him in her room. 

Elsie. She hasn't seen him? 

Mrs. Hughes. Not yet. We're so afraid of 
the excitement. 

Elsie. But she knows he's free? 

Mrs. Hughes. Oh, yes! Only, she is not to 
hear any details until she is well. 

Elsie. My night's rest has refreshed me 
wonderfully. You go now and lie down, and 
let me watch. 

Mrs. Hughes. No, I'm not tired, and I 
promised to send for Julian the moment she 
wakes up. [She opens the box of flowers. 



1 88 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Elsie. I'll go for Julian, and send him, so as 
not to be here when they meet. What lovely 
violets ! 

Mrs. Hughes. [Reads the card.] ''In grati- 
tude that the best and pluckiest assistant I ever 
had has turned the corner at last toward recovery. 
Affectionately, George Tompson." 

Elsie. What a nice message ! I want to tell 
you something ! I'm announcing my engage- 
ment to Jimmy O'Neill to-day. 

Mrs. Hughes. Really ! I am glad ! 

Elsie. Yes, you know when I heard what 
he'd done to help Margaret, I caved right in, 
but I didn't want to have any celebration till 
Mr. Rolfe was free. So we're announcing it 
to-day. And I tell Jimmy, with such a clever 
detective as he around all the time, I won't ever 
dare to even look at another man ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 189 

[Laughs gently. Margaret wakes, turns, and 
slightly lifts her head, hut they do not observe 
her. Through the rest of the scene she fol- 
lows all they say with suppressed emotion, 
— keeping herself still, lest they should find 
out she is awake and stop talking, hut moving 
and reflecting in her face all that what they 
say means to her. 
Mrs. Hughes. Did Jimmy tell you anything 
about yesterday afternoon at the trial? 

Elsie. Yes. He said there was a wonderful 
scene in court, 

Mrs. Hughes. Do tell me about it ! I didn't 
like to ask Julian. 

Elsie. Well, of course the whole thing was a 
foregone conclusion, after Mr. Tompson's cross- 
examination of the Forster woman. But, all 
the same, until the verdict was actually given, 



iQo THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

there was still a certain sort of uncertainty; 

nobody knew what mightn't turn up ! 

Mrs. Hughes. What a bold fight she made! 

Elsie. Yes. You see, with Margaret ill 
and unable to appear, she thought she had a 
chance. That's why the case went as far as it 
did — with her ridiculous tale that she knew 
Margaret all the time — and only wanted to 
draw her out ! 

Mrs. Hughes. She reckoned without Mr. 
Tompson ! 

Elsie. Exactly! Well, yesterday, it seems, 
their side took three hours to sum up. People 
were furious ! And Mr. Tompson spoke only 
ten minutes ! 

Mrs. Hughes. Was that enough ? 

Elsie. [Still whispering.] Well, it seems so ! ! ! 
There was enormous applause when he'd finished 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 191 

— which Judge Carey stopped. Then the 
Judge's address to the jury lasted barely five 
minutes ! And the jury came back, almost 
before they all got out ! Then, when Julian stood 
up, looking so calm, so true, so utterly incapable 
of ever having done this thing ! — Jimmy says, 
nearly everyone's eyes were w^et. [Margaret 
wipes away the tears that are falling from hers. 
Mrs. Hughes also.] But — after the verdict ! ! 
Such shouts ! Such cheers ! The Judge didn't 
try to stop it ! Everyone wanting to shake his 
hand, and one woman kissed kirn. 

Margaret. [In a clear voice.] What woman? 
[Both turn in amazement. 

Elsie. Margaret! 

Mrs. Hughes. [Going to her.] When did you 
wake up, dear? 

Margaret. Oh, long ago ! I've heard every 



192 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

word. Oh, what I'd have given to have been 
there ! There'd have been two women kiss him, 
then! 

Mrs. Hughes. My darhng, why did you let 
us go on? 

Margaret. It hasn't done me any harm, 
mother. See how calm I am. I've had a nice 
Httle sleep, — quite enough! 

Mrs. Hughes. Elsie has helped nurse you 
every day, Margaret. I'm sure you want to 
thank her. 

Margaret. [Holds out a slender hand.] Oh, 
yes! Elsie, come here. [Elsie goes to her, and 
takes her hand, which Margaret holds tight.] 
Thank you, dear girl. 

Elsie. I'm announcing my engagement to 
Jimmy O'Neill to-day. 

Margaret. Are you ! That's splendid ! 



THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 193 

Elsie. Yes, — wasn't he fine? 

Margaret. He was dear ! I wish you all 
the happiness I know you'll have. 

Elsie. Thank you. 

Margaret. Mother, now I want to see Julian ! 

Elsie. I will send him. 

[She goes out. 

Mrs. Hughes. [Gives Margaret the violets.] 
From Mr. Tompson, with this message. 

[Reading the card. 

Margaret. They're lovely. [Smiles over the 
card.] Dear Mr. Tompson ! Mother dear — 

[She hesitates. 

Mrs. Hughes. Yes? 

Margaret. You won't feel hurt, will you, 
dearest, — but I want to see Julian alone. 

Mrs. Hughes. Of course, my dear Margaret, 
I understand perfectly ! I'm going. 



194 THE WOMAN IN THE CASE 

Margaret. [Taking her hand.] How good 
you've been. You're all worn out — dear mother ! 
Mrs. Hughes. Not at all worn out! It's a 
joy to your foolish old mother to think she has 
been able to do something for you ! Now, rest a 
minute till he comes. 

[She smooths Margaret's pillow, and then 
leaves the room. Margaret closes her eyes. 
There is a momenVs pause. The door opens ; 
it is Julian. 
Julian. Margaret ! 

[He goes to her. 

Margaret. [Trying to lift herself on her elbow.] 

Don't say anything, Julian. To talk to you 

would be more joy than I feel I can bear just now. 

Julian. Margaret ! [He sits on the bed beside 

her, putting his arm around her. 

Margaret. Just lift me up in your arms — 



THE WOMAN IX THE CASE 195 

so — and let my head rest on your shoulder — ■ 
yes, like that ! 

[He kisses her tenderly. 
Margaret. [Smiling up into his face.] Oh, 
how quickly I shall get well, now ! 

THE CURTAIN FALLS 



